# Pop Idol series 2

The second and most recent series of British reality television show Pop Idol aired on ITV on from 13 September to 20 December 2003. Michelle McManus was announced as the winner and received a £1 million recording contract to release her debut album. Ant & Dec returned to present the show on ITV, whilst Simon Cowell, Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman and Pete Waterman all returned as judges.
The second series was not as successful as the first series, and the viewing figures for the finale were much lower. Waterman considered McManus an unworthy winner. In 2004, Pop Idol was axed and ITV announced a new show created by Cowell, with no involvement from Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller—The X Factor. The perceived similarity between the two shows later became the subject of a legal dispute.

## Live shows

The live shows began on 25 October, and continued through to the live final on 20 December.

## Finalists

| Finalist | Age | Hometown | Status |
| Leon McPherson | 20 | Stoke Newington | Eliminated 1st on 25 October |
| Kirsty Crawford | 19 | Northampton | Eliminated 2nd on 25 October |
| Andy Wood | 20 | Leeds | Eliminated 3rd on 1 November |
| Brian Ormond | 24 | Dublin | Eliminated 4th on 1 November |
| Kim Gee | 23 | Grimsby | Eliminated 5th on 8 November |
| Andy Scott-Lee | 23 | Rhyl | Eliminated 6th on 15 November |
| Roxanne Cooper | 16 | Hull | Eliminated 7th on 22 November |
| Susanne Manning | 21 | Reading | Eliminated 8th on 29 November |
| Chris Hide | 18 | Lancing | Eliminated 9th on 6 December |
| Sam Nixon | 17 | Barnsley | Third place on 13 December |
| Mark Rhodes | 22 | West Midlands | Runner-up on 20 December |
| Michelle McManus | 23 | Glasgow | Winner on 20 December |
* as of the start of the series

## Heats and live shows
### Results summary
#### Colour key

| – | Contestant was in the bottom two |
| – | Contestant was in the bottom three |
| – | Contestant received the fewest public votes and was eliminated |
| – | Contestant received the most public votes (weeks 1-8) |
| – | Contestant won the competition |
| – | Contestant who the judges selected as a wild card |
| Stage: | Stage: | Heats | Heats | Heats | Heats | Heats | Wild card | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows | Live shows |
| Week: | Week: | 13 Sep | 20 Sep | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | 11 Oct | 18 Oct | 25 Oct | 1 Nov | 8 Nov | 15 Nov | 22 Nov | 29 Nov | 6 Dec | 13 Dec | 20 Dec |
| Place | Contestant | 13 Sep | 20 Sep | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | 11 Oct | 18 Oct | 25 Oct | 1 Nov | 8 Nov | 15 Nov | 22 Nov | 29 Nov | 6 Dec | 13 Dec | 20 Dec |
| 1 | Michelle McManus | 1st 31.4% | | | | | | 5th 9.9% | 1st 17.2% | 6th 10.7% | 1st 23.3% | 1st 24.3% | 2nd 29.0% | 1st 40.0% | 1st 40.3% | Winner 58.2% |
| 2 | Mark Rhodes | | | | | 2nd 20.3% | | 10th 4.9% | 7th 7.1% | 2nd 15.5% | 5th 10.9% | 5th 13.7% | 3rd 15.1% | 3rd 19.0% | 2nd 33.6% | Runner-up 41.8% |
| 3 | Sam Nixon | | | 3rd 19.4% | | | J/C | 2nd 12.4% | 5th 11.1% | 5th 11.5% | 2nd 16.8% | 2nd 18.0% | 1st 34.2% | 2nd 23.4% | 3rd 26.0% | Eliminated (week 8) |
| 4 | Chris Hide | 2nd 19.3% | | | | | | 3rd 11.0% | 6th 8.1% | 3rd 13.5% | 6th 10.9% | 3rd 16.9% | 4th 12.2% | 4th 17.5% | Eliminated (week 7) | Eliminated (week 7) |
| 5 | Susanne Manning | | 3rd 16.1% | | | | 1st 27.2% | 1st 16.8% | 4th 13.4% | 1st 22.3% | 4th 11.9%% | 4th 13.8% | 5th 9.7% | Eliminated (week 6) | Eliminated (week 6) | Eliminated (week 6) |
| 6 | Roxanne Cooper | | | 2nd 23.5% | | | | 8th 5.2% | 3rd 13.4% | 7th 9.6% | 3rd 16.5% | 6th 13.2% | Eliminated (week 5) | Eliminated (week 5) | Eliminated (week 5) | Eliminated (week 5) |
| 7 | Andy Scott-Lee | | | | | 1st 21.1% | | 7th 7.1% | 2nd 16.0% | 4th 12.3% | 7th 9.8% | Eliminated (week 4) | Eliminated (week 4) | Eliminated (week 4) | Eliminated (week 4) | Eliminated (week 4) |
| 8 | Kim Gee | | | | 2nd 24.2% | | | 6th 8.2% | 8th 5.7% | 8th 4.6% | Eliminated (week 3) | Eliminated (week 3) | Eliminated (week 3) | Eliminated (week 3) | Eliminated (week 3) | Eliminated (week 3) |
| 9 | Brian Ormond | | 2nd 16.8% | | | | | 9th 5.2% | 9th 5.0% | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) |
| 10 | Andy Wood | | | 1st 28.2% | | | | 4th 11.0% | 10th 4.2% | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) | Eliminated (week 2) |
| 11 | Kirsty Crawford | | 1st 19.9% | | | | | 11th 4.2% | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) |
| 12 | Leon McPherson | | | | 1st 28.6% | | | 12th 4.0% | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) | Eliminated (week 1) |
| Wild Card | Danielle Tedford | | | | | 3rd 17.5% | 2nd 16.2% | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) |
| Wild Card | Jason Brook | 3rd 17.4% | | | | | 3rd 10.4% | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) |
| Wild Card | Jodie Connor | | 4th 15.2% | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) |
| Wild Card | Rebecca Hayes | 4th 9.8% | | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) |
| Wild Card | Kieran McDonald | | | 4th 10.7% | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) |
| Wild Card | Glen Harvey | | | | | 4th 15.1% | Eliminated | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) | Eliminated (Wildcard round) |
| Heat 5 | Tina Perry | | | | | 5th 6.9% | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) |
| Heat 5 | Craig Chalmers | | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) |
| Heat 5 | Becky Oakley | | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) |
| Heat 5 | Elizabeth Anastasiou | | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) |
| Heat 5 | Katy Pullinger | | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) |
| Heat 5 | Tamsin Vaughn | | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) | Eliminated (Heat 5) |
| Heat 4 | Becca Hossanney | | | | 3rd 15.5% | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | Jamie Tinkler | | | | 4th 8.7% | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | Tarek Jabre | | | | 5th 8.4% | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | Sarah Nowak | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | Elizabeth Rogers | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | Laura Ross | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | David Archer | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 4 | Danielle Wooley | | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) | Eliminated (Heat 4) |
| Heat 3 | Suzanne Carley | | | 5th 7.7% | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
| Heat 3 | Hayley Bamford | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
| Heat 3 | Kate Ainscough | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
| Heat 3 | Rachel Ifon | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
| Heat 3 | Amy Kellegher | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
| Heat 3 | Michael Morrison | | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
| Heat 2 | Adam Garner | | 5th 9.4% | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) |
| Heat 2 | Samantha Jones | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) |
| Heat 2 | Bianca Lindgreen | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) |
| Heat 2 | Maxwell Roche | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) |
| Heat 2 | Kelly-Marie Smith | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) |
| Heat 2 | Wesu Wallace | | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) | Eliminated (Heat 2) |
| Heat 1 | Eddie Parry | 5th 9.4% | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
| Heat 1 | Jade Hewitt | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
| Heat 1 | Tim Mvula | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
| Heat 1 | Helen O'Brien | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
| Heat 1 | Emma Dane | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
| Heat 1 | Darja Schabad | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
* In week 1 of the finals, Chris and Andy received the same vote percentage as did Roxanne and Brian. In week 2, Mark and Chris received the same vote percentage.

### Live show details
#### Heat 1 (13 September- Recorded on 10 September 2003)

Contestants' performances on the first live heat :
| Act | Order | From | Song | Result |
| Emma Dane | 1 | Preston | "Hero" (Mariah Carey) | Eliminated |
| Jade Hewitt | 2 | Sheffield | "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (Whitney Houston) | Eliminated |
| Eddie Parry | 3 | Staffordshire | "Still" (Lionel Richie) | Eliminated – (5th place) |
| Helen O'Brien | 4 | Kessingland | "Promise Me" (Beverley Craven) | Eliminated |
| Tim Mvula | 5 | Chester | "Just the Way You Are" (Billy Joel) | Eliminated |
| Michelle McManus | 6 | Glasgow | "Don't Be a Stranger" (Dina Carroll) | Advanced – (1st place) |
| Darja Schabad | 7 | Riga | "Underneath Your Clothes" (Shakira) | Eliminated |
| Chris Hide | 8 | Lancing | "End of the Road" (Boyz II Men) | Advanced – (2nd place) |
| Jason Brock | 9 | Woburn | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (Bryan Adams) | Eliminated – (3rd place) |
| Rebecca Hayes | 10 | London | "Stop!" (Sam Brown) | Eliminated – (4th place) |

##### Notes;

* The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Michelle McManus and Chris Hide advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other eight contestants were eliminated.
* Jason Brock and Rebecca Hayes returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.

#### Heat 2 (20 September-Recorded on 17 September 2003)

Contestants' performances on the second live heat :
| Act | Order | From | Song | Result |
| Samantha Jones | 1 | Tamworth | "The Power of Love" (Jennifer Rush) | Eliminated |
| Maxwell Roche | 2 | Staines | "Your Song" (Elton John) | Eliminated |
| Bianca Lindgreen | 3 | London | "Think Twice" (Celine Dion) | Eliminated |
| Wesu Wallace | 4 | Brighton | "Overjoyed" (Stevie Wonder) | Eliminated |
| Kelly-Marie Smith | 5 | South London | "Endless Love" (Diana Ross) | Eliminated |
| Susanne Manning | 6 | Reading | "Piece of My Heart" (Erma Franklin) | Eliminated – (3rd place) |
| Brian Ormond | 7 | Dublin | "Amazed" (Lonestar) | Advanced – (2nd place) |
| Kirsty Crawford | 8 | Northampton | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin) | Advanced – (1st place) |
| Adam Garner | 9 | Buckinghamshire | "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (Stevie Wonder) | Eliminated – (5th place) |
| Jodie Connor | 10 | Oldham | "One Day I'll Fly Away" (Randy Crawford) | Eliminated – (4th place) |

##### Notes

* The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Kirsty Crawford and Brian Ormond advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
* Jodie Connor and Susanne Manning returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.

#### Heat 3 (27 September- Recorded on 24 September 2003)

Contestants' performances on the third live heat :
| Act | Order | From | Song | Result |
| Kate Ainscough | 1 | Windermere | "Show Me Heaven" (Maria McKee) | Eliminated |
| Amy Kellegher | 2 | Romford | "Get Here" (Oleta Adams) | Eliminated |
| Kieran McDonald | 3 | Musselburgh | "Goodnight Girl" (Wet Wet Wet) | Eliminated – (4th place) |
| Michael Morrison | 4 | Bromley | "Always and Forever" (Heatwave) | Eliminated |
| Rachel Ifon | 5 | Birkenhead | "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (Otis Redding) | Eliminated |
| Hayley Bamford | 6 | Yorkshire | "That's What Friends Are For" (Dionne Warwick) | Eliminated |
| Roxanne Cooper | 7 | Hull | "Beautiful" (Christina Aguilera) | Advanced – (2nd place) |
| Sam Nixon | 8 | Barnsley | "Walking in Memphis" (Marc Cohn) | Eliminated – (3rd place) |
| Suzanne Carley | 9 | Watford | "Run to You" (Whitney Houston) | Eliminated – (5th place) |
| Andy Wood | 10 | Leeds | "Easy" (Commodores) | Advanced – (1st place) |

##### Notes

* The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Andy Wood and Roxanne Cooper advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
* Kieran McDonald and Sam Nixon returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.

#### Heat 4 (4 October- Recorded on 1 October 2003)

Contestants' performances on the fourth live heat :
| Act | Order | From | Song | Result |
| Elizabeth Rogers | 1 | Liverpool | "You're Still the One" (Shania Twain) | Eliminated |
| Sarah Nowak | 2 | Maidenhead | "Stuck in the Middle With You" (Stealers Wheel) | Eliminated |
| Jamie Tinkler | 3 | Middlesbrough | "Right Here Waiting" (Richard Marx) | Eliminated – (4th place) |
| Kim Gee | 4 | Grimsby | "Son of a Preacher Man" (Dusty Springfield) | Advanced – (2nd place) |
| Laura Russ | 5 | Wirral | "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (Roberta Flack) | Eliminated |
| David Archer | 6 | South Wales | "What Makes a Man" (Westlife) | Eliminated |
| Danielle Wooley | 7 | Nottingham | "When I Fall in Love" (Doris Day) | Eliminated |
| Leon McPherson | 8 | Stoke Newington | "You Are Not Alone" (Michael Jackson) | Advanced – (1st place) |
| Becca Hossanney | 9 | Hailsham | "Without You" (Badfinger) | Eliminated – (3rd place) |
| Tarek Jabre | 10 | East London | "Let Me Entertain You" (Robbie Williams) | Eliminated – (5th place) |

##### Notes

* The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Leon McPherson and Kim Gee advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
* None of the contestants from this round made it into the Wildcard Round, making it the only group to not be represented at that stage.

#### Heat 5 (11 October- Recorded on 8 October 2003)

Contestants' performances on the fifth live heat :
| Act | Order | From | Song | Result |
| Tamsin Vaughn | 1 | London | "Holding Out for a Hero" (Bonnie Tyler) | Eliminated |
| Mark Rhodes | 2 | West Midlands | "She's Like the Wind" (Patrick Swayze) | Advanced – (2nd place) |
| Katy Pullinger | 3 | Weybridge | "Desperado" (Eagles) | Eliminated |
| Becky Oakley | 4 | Tonypandy | "You Might Need Somebody" (Shola Ama) | Eliminated |
| Tina Perry | 5 | Kent | "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (Aerosmith) | Eliminated – (5th place) |
| Craig Chalmers | 6 | Edinburgh | "I Believe I Can Fly" (R.Kelly) | Eliminated |
| Danielle Tedford | 7 | Barrow-in-Furness | "Fields of Gold" (Sting) | Eliminated – (3rd place) |
| Andy Scott-Lee | 8 | Rhyl | "Careless Whisper" (Wham!) | Advanced – (1st place) |
| Glen Harvey | 9 | Hampshire | "A Million Love Songs" (Take That) | Eliminated – (4th place) |
| Elizabeth Anastasiou | 10 | London | "When I Need You" (Leo Sayer) | Eliminated |

##### Notes

* The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Andy Scott-Lee and Mark Rhodes advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
* Glen Harvey and Danielle Tedford returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.
* Craig Chalmers later went on to make the live finals of Any Dream Will Do in 2007.

#### Wildcard round (18 October)

For the first time (and only time) on the UK version of Pop Idol, there was a Wildcard Round where previously eliminated contestants returned for a second chance at making it through to the live finals. As a result, the final 10 was to become a final twelve. The judges announced which eight contestants would earn a Wildcard place at the end of the 11 October results show, and that after they perform the public would choose one contestant to go through, and the judges would pick another. The eight contestants who contested the Wildcard Round were Jason Brock, Jodie Connor, Glen Harvey, Rebecca Hayes, Susanne Manning, Kieran McDonald, Sam Nixon and Danielle Tedford.
Contestants' performances on the live wildcard round :
| Act | Order | Song | Result |
| Kieran McDonald | 1 | "I'm Your Man" (Wham!) | Eliminated – (3rd place) |
| Jodie Connor | 2 | "Heaven" (Bryan Adams) | Eliminated |
| Rebecca Hayes | 3 | "I'll Be There" (Jackson 5) | Eliminated |
| Jason Brock | 4 | "Lately" (Stevie Wonder) | Eliminated |
| Glen Harvey | 5 | "Yesterday" (The Beatles) | Eliminated |
| Susanne Manning | 6 | "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Everything But The Girl) | Advanced – (1st place) |
| Danielle Tedford | 7 | "Thorn in My Side" (Annie Lennox) | Eliminated – (2nd place) |
| Sam Nixon | 8 | "Over My Shoulder" (Mike + The Mechanics) | Advanced – (Judges choice) |

##### Notes

* The judges selected Sam to move on into the Top 12 of the competition, before the hosts revealed the Top 3 vote getters. Susanne received the most votes, and completed the top 12. It was not made clear whether or not Sam was actually in the top 3, as the hosts stated that it was the top 3 of the remaining 7 contestants. Danielle missed out on the finals by one place for the second time.
* In 2010, Jodie Connor's vocals were featured on the UK number-one single "Good Times" by London grime collective, Roll Deep, and she later went onto launch a solo career.

#### Live show 1 (25 October)

* Theme: Songs by contestant's 'Pop Idol'
* Best bits songs: "You Are Not Alone" (Leon McPherson) & "Nobody Does It Better" (Kirsty Crawford)
Due to the addition of two extra contestants through the Wildcard Round, it was announced that for the first two weeks of the finals, two contestants would be eliminated instead of the standard one.
Contestants' performances on the first live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Musical Hero | Result |
| Kirsty Crawford | 1 | "I'm Outta Love" (Anastacia) | Anastacia | Eliminated |
| Leon McPherson | 2 | "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (Stevie Wonder) | Stevie Wonder | Eliminated |
| Brian Ormond | 3 | "A Different Corner" (George Michael) | George Michael | Safe |
| Kim Gee | 4 | "River Deep - Mountain High" (Tina Turner) | Tina Turner | Safe |
| Mark Rhodes | 5 | "With or Without You" (U2) | U2 | Bottom three |
| Susanne Manning | 6 | "Ironic" (Alanis Morissette) | Alanis Morissette | Safe |
| Andy Scott-Lee | 7 | "If You're Not the One" (Daniel Bedingfield) | Daniel Bedingfield | Safe |
| Sam Nixon | 8 | "Handbags & Gladrags" (Rod Stewart) | Rod Stewart | Safe |
| Michelle McManus | 9 | "All By Myself" (Eric Carmen) | Celine Dion | Safe |
| Andy Wood | 10 | "To Love Somebody" (The Bee Gees) | The Bee Gees | Safe |
| Roxanne Cooper | 11 | "You're Still the One" (Shania Twain) | Shania Twain | Safe |
| Chris Hide | 12 | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John) | Elton John | Safe |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Leon McPherson and Mark Rhodes
* Nicki Chapman: Leon McPherson and Michelle McManus
* Pete Waterman: Leon McPherson and Kirsty Crawford
* Simon Cowell: Leon McPherson and Kirsty Crawford

##### Notes

* Just 80 votes separated Chris Hide and Andy Wood in week one.

#### Live show 2 (1 November)

* Theme: Songs from contestant's birth year
* Best bits songs: "Flying Without Wings" (Brian Ormond) & "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Andy Wood)
Contestants' performances on the second live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Birth year | Result |
| Andy Wood | 1 | "I Believe I Can Fly" (R Kelly) | 1983 | Eliminated |
| Susanne Manning | 2 | "Only You" (Yazoo) | 1982 | Safe |
| Sam Nixon | 3 | "True Colours" (Cyndi Lauper) | 1986 | Safe |
| Kim Gee | 4 | "Hot Stuff" (Donna Summer) | 1979 | Bottom three |
| Chris Hide | 5 | "Heaven" (Bryan Adams) | 1983 | Safe |
| Mark Rhodes | 6 | "Imagine" (John Lennon) | 1981 | Safe |
| Roxanne Cooper | 7 | "Take My Breath Away" (Berlin) | 1986 | Safe |
| Andy Scott-Lee | 8 | "She's Out of My Life" (Michael Jackson) | 1980 | Safe |
| Brian Ormond | 9 | "Honesty" (Billy Joel) | 1979 | Eliminated |
| Michelle McManus | 10 | "On the Radio" (Donna Summer) | 1979 | Safe |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes & Brian Ormond
* Nicki Chapman: Andy Wood & Brian Ormond
* Pete Waterman: Brian Ormond & Kim Gee
* Simon Cowell: Mark Rhodes & Brian Ormond

#### Live show 3 (8 November)

* Theme: Elton John songs
* Best bits song: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
Contestants' performances on the third live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Result |
| Roxanne Cooper | 1 | "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | Bottom two |
| Chris Hide | 2 | "Circle of Life" | Safe |
| Andy Scott Lee | 3 | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" | Safe |
| Michelle McManus | 4 | "Your Song" | Bottom three |
| Sam Nixon | 5 | "I Want Love" | Safe |
| Kim Gee | 6 | "The One" | Eliminated |
| Mark Rhodes | 7 | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" | Safe |
| Susanne Manning | 8 | "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" | Safe |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Chris Hide
* Nicki Chapman: Chris Hide
* Pete Waterman: Kim Gee
* Simon Cowell: Kim Gee

#### Live show 4 (15 November)

* Theme: Disco songs
* Best bits song: "Wind Beneath My Wings"
Contestants' performances on the fourth live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Result |
| Susanne Manning | 1 | "Young Hearts Run Free" (Candi Staton) | Safe |
| Andy Scott-Lee | 2 | "Rock with You" (Michael Jackson) | Eliminated |
| Michelle McManus | 3 | "If I Can't Have You" (Yvonne Elliman) | Safe |
| Mark Rhodes | 4 | "More Than a Woman" (The Bee Gees) | Bottom three |
| Sam Nixon | 5 | "Blame It on the Boogie" (Mick Jackson) | Safe |
| Roxanne Cooper | 6 | "Can You Feel It" (The Jacksons) | Safe |
| Chris Hide | 7 | "Ain't Nobody" (Chaka Khan) | Bottom two |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Chris Hide
* Nicki Chapman: Chris Hide
* Pete Waterman: Roxanne Cooper
* Simon Cowell: Roxanne Cooper

##### Notes

* Just 697 votes separated Mark Rhodes and Chris Hide in week four.
* Although Hide was second from bottom, he was announced as safe, leading viewers to assume that Suzanne had come second from bottom.

#### Live show 5 (22 November)

* Theme: The Beatles songs
* Best bits song: "Didn't We Almost Have It All"
Contestants' performances on the fifth live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Result |
| Sam Nixon | 1 | "With a Little Help From My Friends" | Safe |
| Susanne Manning | 2 | "Ticket to Ride" | Bottom three |
| Chris Hide | 3 | "The Long and Winding Road" | Safe |
| Roxanne Cooper | 4 | "Let It Be" | Eliminated |
| Michelle McManus | 5 | "Hey Jude" | Safe |
| Mark Rhodes | 6 | "Help!" | Bottom two |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes
* Nicki Chapman: Mark Rhodes
* Pete Waterman: Mark Rhodes
* Simon Cowell: Mark Rhodes

#### Live show 6 (29 November)

* Theme: Big band
* Best bits song: "Beautiful"
Contestants' performances on the sixth live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Result |
| Michelle McManus | 1 | "Feeling Good" (Nina Simone) | Safe |
| Chris Hide | 2 | "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" (Dean Martin) | Bottom two |
| Susanne Manning | 3 | "Cry Me a River" (Julie London) | Eliminated |
| Mark Rhodes | 4 | "Have You Met Miss Jones?" (Robbie Williams) | Safe |
| Sam Nixon | 5 | "Mr. Bojangles" (Sammy Davis Jr) | Safe |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Susanne Manning
* Nicki Chapman: Susanne Manning
* Pete Waterman: Susanne Manning
* Simon Cowell: Susanne Manning

#### Live show 7 (6 December)

* Theme: Christmas songs
* Best bits song: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
Contestants' performances on the seventh live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Order | Song | Result |
| Mark Rhodes | 1 | "Merry Xmas Everybody" (Slade) | 5 | "Blue Christmas" (Elvis Presley) | Bottom two |
| Sam Nixon | 2 | "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (Wizzard) | 6 | "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (The Jackson 5) | Safe |
| Chris Hide | 3 | "Winter Wonderland" (Tony Bennett) | 7 | "White Christmas" (Bing Crosby) | Eliminated |
| Michelle McManus | 4 | "Merry Christmas Everyone" (Shakin' Stevens) | 8 | "Oh Holy Night" (Various artists) | Safe |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes
* Nicki Chapman: Mark Rhodes
* Pete Waterman: Mark Rhodes
* Simon Cowell: Mark Rhodes

#### Live show 8 (13 December)

* Theme: Judges' song choice
* Best bits song: "Hero"
Contestants' performances on the eighth live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Order | Song | Result |
| Sam Nixon | 1 | "Maggie May" (Rod Stewart) | 4 | "Always" (Bon Jovi) | Eliminated |
| Michelle McManus | 2 | "I Say a Little Prayer" (Dionne Warwick) | 5 | "Without You" (Badfinger) | Safe |
| Mark Rhodes | 3 | "Back for Good" (Take That) | 6 | "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Simply Red) | Safe |
* Judges Prediction of who will leave
* Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes
* Nicki Chapman: Mark Rhodes
* Pete Waterman: Michelle McManus
* Simon Cowell: Refused to vote

#### Final (20 December)

Contestants' performances on the ninth live show :
| Act | Order | Song | Order | Song | Order | Song | Result |
| Mark Rhodes | 1 | "All This Time" | 3 | "She's Like the Wind" | 5 | "Measure of a Man" | Runner-up |
| Michelle McManus | 2 | "All This Time" | 4 | "On the Radio" | 6 | "The Meaning of Love" | Winner |

## Reception
### Ratings

| Episode | Date | Viewers (millions) | Weekly rank |
| Auditions 1 | 9 August | 5.61 | 16 |
| Auditions 2 | 16 August | 7.33 | 10 |
| Auditions 3 | 23 August | 7.68 | 10 |
| Auditions 4 | 30 August | 8.85 | 10 |
| Theatre rounds | 6 September | 7.29 | 18 |
| Heat 1 | 13 September | 6.57 | 18 |
| Heat 1 results | 13 September | Under 3.83 | Outside Top 30 |
| Heat 2 | 20 September | 6.82 | 19 |
| Heat 2 results | 20 September | 7.19 | 17 |
| Heat 3 | 27 September | 7.02 | 14 |
| Heat 3 results | 27 September | 6.63 | 15 |
| Heat 4 | 4 October | 7.19 | 13 |
| Heat 4 results | 4 October | 7.31 | 12 |
| Heat 5 | 11 October | 6.79 | 18 |
| Heat 5 results | 11 October | 6.46 | 19 |
| Wildcard round | 18 October | 8.15 | 12 |
| Wildcard round results | 18 October | 7.65 | 15 |
| Live show 1 | 25 October | 8.33 | 13 |
| Live show 1 results | 25 October | 7.84 | 16 |
| Live show 2 | 1 November | 8.53 | 15 |
| Live show 2 results | 1 November | 8.02 | 16 |
| Live show 3 | 8 November | 8.82 | 13 |
| Live show 3 results | 8 November | 8.36 | 14 |
| Live show 4 | 15 November | 8.45 | 14 |
| Live show 4 results | 15 November | 7.56 | 19 |
| Live show 5 | 22 November | 9.44 | 11 |
| Live show 5 results | 22 November | 8.99 | 13 |
| Live show 6 | 29 November | 9.98 | 8 |
| Live show 6 results | 29 November | 9.27 | 10 |
| Live show 7 | 6 December | 9.86 | 8 |
| Live show 7 results | 6 December | 9.32 | 11 |
| Live show 8 | 6 December | 10.51 | 7 |
| Live show 8 results | 13 December | 9.37 | 12 |
| Live final | 20 December | 11.04 | 6 |
| Live final results | 20 December | 10.13 | 8 |