ITV COMMISSION NEW PROGRAMME

ITV have commissioned a new programme, from Pearson Television with 19 TV, which will give television viewers the chance to choose a pop wannabe whose solo career will be launched by one of the most successful teams in recent chart history.
Former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller of 19 Group, who manages S Club 7, Annie Lennox, Simon Cowell, is the A&R Executive at RCA responsible for Westlife, Five, and Robson and Jerome, devised the format and will be instrumental in the nationwide search for a superstar.
‘Pop Idol’ is a national search for a new solo performer. An expert panel of judges will whittle down thousands of hopefuls from open auditions across the UK. The viewers will then decide, as voting opens to the public, who they think most deserves a chance at pop stardom.
The programme will be supported by a massive multi-media campaign through television, radio, press and the internet and will launch the career of one young hopeful, whose prize will be a management deal with 19 Management, recording contract with RCA and guaranteed stardom.
Claudia Rosencrantz, Controller of Entertainment at ITV Network, said: “After the phenomenal success of ‘Popstars’ it will be wonderful to give our viewers the chance to decide who should be next for pop stardom.”
Alan Boyd, Chief Executive of UK Production, will be the executive in charge of the programme at Pearson Television. (CD)