The following article was printed in The Mirror's Saturday TV supplement, 'The Look', in January 2002. It took a look behind the scenes of Pop Idol during Abba week.
Click on an image below to read in full.
Tonight, more than eight million viewers will tune in to watch the four remaining Pop Idol finalists singing their hearts out before the nerve-racking wait to discover who is still in the competition and who has been voted off. But what goes on behind the scenes as Saturday builds towards the live performances and the suspense becomes unbearable? The Look was exclusively invited to spend the day backstage at the live ITV1 show on the Abba night. At the time, the 10,000 applicants had been whittled down to just six. We saw the tears, tension and the tantrums and witnessed just how fraught the contest really is. 7.06 Alarm clocks go off at the secret location hotel suite shared by Hayley Evetts, Rosie Ribbons, Darius Danesh and William Young. It is like a self-contained flat with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lounge and kitchen. Gareth Gates and Zoe Birkett share rooms in the same hotel with their mums, because they are both under 18. "I don't mind at all," says Gareth, whose mum, Wendy, gave up hairdressing to support his Pop Idol quest. "In fact, I love it because mum keeps my feet on the ground. I've got someone who I can talk to about any worries and she totally understands. She's probably the person I turn to for the most support, she's great." Hayley and Will are rubbing the sleep from their eyes, and Rosie yawns and looks out of the window while Darius, an early riser, starts making toast. The others can't face breakfast - their nerves are already fraught. Will finds it the hardest to get up, but finally drags himself out of bed. Then they fight for the bathrooms like brothers and sisters. 9.00 Two cars arrive to pick up the six contestants. By tonight there will be just five left. For Will, 22, the best thing about Saturdays is seeing his friends "Although my family are very supportive, the people I've turned to most are my friends," he says. "They are Adam Jones, who's training at RADA in London, and Katie Russell, a classical singer. I met them at Exeter University and they've helped me through some difficult periods in my life." 9.30 The finalists arrive at Fountain Studios in Wembley where they will spend the next 12 hours experiencing a mixture of mounting tension and stage-fright. They are "babysat" by two members of the show's production team who stay at the hotel with them during the week and spend Saturdays providing hands-on support. This week, researcher Camilla Rahaman and associate producer Claire Howell are in charge, "They're all pretty tense, but then they always are on Saturdays," says Camilla. "Luckily they're kept pretty busy throughout the day so they don't have too much time to dwell on their nerves." 10.00 Rehearsals start in the studio where they'll later perform their choice of an Abba song live to the nation. On Monday they decided on a song with musical director Ray Monk, and they have spent all week perfecting their performances with vocal coaches David and Carrie Grant.
After the first of many hair and make-up sessions, the six run through their routines three times each while learning which camera to look into. Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, who has been branded Mr Nasty, sticks his head around the corner and winces.
"They all sound awful so far," he says, shaking his head and tutting. No one dares tell the contestants.
13.00 It's time for lunch in the comfy Green Room, a backstage artists' area where pop magazines are strewn around the sofas and a bowl of sugary sweets takes pride of place on the table. A huge tray of sandwiches is brought in, but everyone is too nervous to eat. The girls gingerly pick at the corners of the odd sandwich and then give up.
"I can't eat," moans Hayley, 25, "No wonder I've lost weight".
Being the two youngest of the remaining wannabes, Zoe who is 16, and 17 year old Gareth have formed a natural bond and are larking around mimicking their hero Ali G. With her legs across Gareth's lap, Zoe says "Me likes chicken!" He laughs and eyeing up the untouched sandwiches, replies "Me likes cheese."
Will and Hayley have become good friends too. They both start giggling when Will signs on to the Pop Idol website on the Green Room's computer and starts reading out the messages sent to him by adoring fans.
Then the girls open today's papers and yelp when they find a publicity picture of them all dressed as ABBA lookalikes.
"Oh no, I look like my mum," groans Zoe.
Will retorts, "Lucky you, I look like a paedophile!"
Darius leans over and asks, "Who do I look like?" A member of the production team jokes, "David Cassidy", and Darius groans with disbelief. Contrary to popular opinion, the 21 year old is well liked by his co-stars and is very protective of them. They all look up to him as a sort of father figure.
"Some of the bad press from Popstars hurt," says Darius, "But now I think I'm the luckiest man alive."
14.00 Full dress rehearsal begins and stylist Toni Porter sees her outfits in all their glory. "Once the producers have picked a theme for the show, I talk to each contestant and get an idea of what they want to wear," she says. "They try on several outfits until we agree on one. We finished the fittings yesterday, so today it's just a case of making sure their outfits aren't too glaring.
"Will and Hayley can pretty much wear anything and look great in it - Will's got natural style. Darius is 6ft 3, so it's harder to find large clothes that he likes. I often have to talk Gareth into wearing things. He took one look at his flared trousers and said 'Oh no!' But after trying them on he got to like them. Zoe loves lots of accessories and bits and pieces. At 16 her tastes are still developing, but she's gorgeous."
Rosie, 18, looks fantastic with a head full of long blonde hair extensions. She does not know yet but this will be her last appearance on Pop Idol.
"It's lovely being pampered", she says "My clothes have changed as Toni has given us loads of advice. At my first audition in London Simon Cowell said I didn't look like a Pop Idol. He was right, I didn't, but I think I've gradually started to look like one".
16.00 For the next hour the contestants stay in the studio for a final dress rehearsal for the Pop Idol Result show, which goes out live at 9.05pm. Production staff show them where to sit and what cameras to look at.
17.00 Outside, a crowd of more than 600 cold but excited Pop Idol fans has formed. Around 450 of them will make up tonight's audience. Tickets are like gold dust and only go to family and friends of the contestants, crew and judges.
There are also a number of corporate tickets. So the lucky ticket holders are queuing outside while the rest of the crowd are simply hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
"I come here every week hoping to get a kiss off Will," says Charlotte Cross, 15, from North West London. "I get here at 4pm and wait until 10pm. I haven't seen him yet. I think he's gorgeous and I know he's going to win." Her friend Tracy Reynolds, 14, disagrees, insisting, "Gareth is much better looking and can sing properly."
Groups of fans start chanting the names of who they want to win - their affections mainly divided between Gareth and Will.
Then the doors open and a great roar goes up as they start filing through under the scrutinising gaze of the security staff.
17.10 Meanwhile just behind the studio an incredible scene is playing out. All six contestants have picked their very own corridor where they each face a wall while singing as loud as possible.
"We stand and stare at the walls because you can really focus on what you're singing that way and not lose your concentration," explains Gareth. "We get into the mood to go out there and sing. What I get more nervous about is the talking bits with Ant and Dec. I'm so nervous that it makes my stammer worse and the words take longer to come out."
Later, after his performance of The Name Of The Game, Will admits, "You know what? I'm not even aware we stare at the wall and sing before we go on. All I know is that I'm concentrating and focusing. I have to think of little personal motivations to get me through the show. Tonight I felt sapped of energy because I didn't feel rehearsals had gone well - we had some quite negative things said to us and it knocked it out of me. But by the time you sing your nerves disappear, even though you are conscious of the cameras."
In between bursts of song, they pace up and down, like boxers preparing for a big fight. Darius and Hayley ask for hot lemon and honey drinks to refresh their vocal cords, while everyone else drinks cup after cup of water. Frequent trips to the loo follow.
Just before they go on, Hayley drops her lucky bracelet into her boot. "It's a little star." she says. "It's for good luck."
17.30 In the studio, warm-up man Danny Stegall is getting the audience to practise clapping, cheering and dancing as they too will be seen on national TV in 40 minutes time. The atmosphere is electric and as soon as the judges walk in, the crowd starts to boo at Simon Cowell and cheer for Dr Fox and Pete Waterman. The fourth judge, Nicki Chapman, is not here tonight.
"They seem a nice bunch," quips Simon, who lights up the first of many cigarettes, despite it being a no smoking studio. He turns and winks at one of two stunning blondes - his mystery guests who are seated right behind him.
18:07 Danny hands over to the show's hosts Ant and Dec, who receive rapturous applause. Ten minutes later, the audience claps as wildly as they can as Ant and Dec open the show. We're on air!
After they have performed, the contestants rush back to the Green Room where their fellow finalists slap them on the back and hug them.
They're all glued to the TV and when any of the judges say anything negative they shout and hoot in protest.
They take all criticism personally and a gloomy air hangs over the room.
19.10 It's all over and Rosie's shaky rendition of ABBA's Winner Takes It All has cost her dear. She's unaware that Simon and Pete have given her the thumbs down, but the audience know - the judges have just filmed a piece to camera for the live Results show, predicting that she's out. Rosie won't know until 9.15pm what the panel really think as for the next two hours, the contestants are kept locked away from anyone who could tell them.
In the Green Room, Will, Gareth and Darius administer brotherly hugs to anyone who needs them as the audience waits for the live Results show.
Kate Thornton interviews the judges and members of the audience about tonight's performances for her live ITV2 show, Pop Idol Extra. The audience boo and hiss again when Simon Cowell darkly predicts that it's curtains for Rosie.
Then the contestants make their way back to the studio to sit opposite Ant and Dec and hear their fates. Darius looks nervous again. "You could cut the atmosphere with a knife," he says. "Although, I must admit, I thrive on all this stress"
21.05 The live show beams out and we discover that Rosie has indeed been voted out by the nation. Surprisingly she takes the news well and doesn't shed a tear. Whereas various staff backstage are in floods. "I hate this bit, we all do," sniffs production assistant Lisa Gettings. "Poor Rosie, we're really going to miss her. It's difficult when you've worked so long with them all, you do get attached."
Still Rosie handles her defeat with dignity. It later transpires that Pete Waterman is already in talks with her about a record deal. "I'm over the moon, I got what I wanted out of it" she says, hugging the others as they all troop off stage.
It's Zoe who's in tears - again. "I cry every week" she says. "We've barely had time to hug Rosie and now we've got to do an interview for the ITV2 shpw. You just don't have time to talk about your feelings".
21.35 The Pop Idol wannabes are physically and emotionally drained. After a few sandwiches they go down to the canteen to meet family and friends. They walk in, a cheer erupts, and the boys are mobbed by fans, hangers-on from the audience, wanting autographs and pictures.
"I do like this bit," jokes Darius, who plans to celebrate making it through another Saturday.
"It's my favourite part of the day," adds Gareth. "Afterwards we are all really tired. We go back to the hotel, have a quick drink and then go to bed. It's amazing how exhausted you feel."
Will jokes that they've paid the fans to mob them. "We've slipped them a tenner," he says. "I find this the most stressful bit of the day. All I want to do is have a quiet beer. I know it's all part of the job, but I'm so exhausted it's hard to find the energy to keep up with the front. You have to keep smiling. It's my least favourite part of the week".
22.00 Simon Cowell chats to the contestants relatives about the show. "I could have been a lot harder on Rosie tonight," he reveals, lighting another cigarette. "She just didn't give it her best shot. I don't think any of them did - it was worst performances all round. The problem is they have people constantly telling them they're brilliant and they get complacent."
He insists he doesn't mind when he's booed at by the audience. "It's just like a pantomime, I don't take it seriously,"he says, wafting a hand dismissively. He then sits withwith his mystery blondes and fellow judges to dissect the evening over a bottle of wine.
22.40 Gareth, Will, Rosie, Darius, Zoe and Hayley are steered to their cars through a secret exit, away from the crowds outside. Back at their hotel suite they meet up again with their families, friends and the production team. Beer and wine is ordered. Someone calls for a pizza. Zoe is the first to crash out, exhausted by the days events.
Rosie will stay at the hotel with the others for one more night then go after GMTV have filmed a live interview with her on Monday morning.
"It's sad when anyone leaves," says Darius. "It's hard to watch them pack their things back at the apartment after we've all been through so much together. There will be tears as we're a compassionate lot. But we know this isn't the end, this is just the beginning of all our journeys."
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