Gareth Gates

It was the phenomenon that gripped the nation like no other program before it: Pop Idol. This is where we watched over 10,000 wannabes audition, be sifted down to just 50 by the panel of judges Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman, Pete Waterman and Dr Fox. That's when we played our part to get these 50 down to 10 who had to perform for us live each week in front of an audience and millions of viewers at home. This is certainly no mean feat to perform live every week on national television.

When asked about how he felt when he found out he had made it to the final 10 Gareth said "I'm overwhelmed," he said. "It hasn't really sunk in yet. When I found out I had 62% of the vote, I was like "what?". I'm so chuffed, I really am. I am going to go home now and have a big party. The important thing now, is for me to keep my feet on the ground and not let all this go to my head."

In Gareth's heat his soon to be good friend, Zoe Birkett came second taking her through to the final 10 too. She said: "I'm really shaking, I just want to hug my mum. Somebody has just told me she's in floods of tears - we're both very emotional. I want to thank everybody who voted for me. Everyone in tonight's show was so brilliant, I can't believe I got through, I never imagined I would. Gareth and I are going to keep in touch now because we're going to be working together in the future." And they have indeed stayed the best of friends.

Then week after week the contestants sang their hearts out and got a taster of the Music Industry from recording studios to photoshoots, interviews to dance studios and one by one we waved goodbye to a contestant until there were just two remaining Gareth Gates and Will Young.

What followed was a media frenzy complete with campaign buses and both Will and Gareth having a fun with it all challenging each other to collect the best souvenirs on their campaign tour.

Then the big final arrived and in a record breaking phone vote in the UK, Gareth was pipped at the finish line by Will with each of them receiving over 4 million votes each! The nation was truly divided and had the phone lines been open another 5 minutes the vote could?e swung again.

Gareth's pure talent and his courage at overcoming his stutter had won him a place in the nation's heart and a record contract.

Discography: