Popstars (Irish TV series)

Popstars is an Irish reality television series, broadcast and produced by RTÉ One, which ran from 2001 to 2002. The programme is based on the original New Zealand series and is part of the international Popstars franchise. The series follows members of the public auditioning to be part of a new band, with the age limit being 18 years old.

Popstars
GenreReality television
Created byJonathan Dowling
Presented byAli White
JudgesLouis Walsh
Linda Martin
Bill Hughes
Country of originIreland
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerJonathan Dowling
Running time30–90 minutes
Release
Original release15 November 2001 (2001-11-15) –
17 February 2002 (2002-02-17)
Related
Popstars

The judging panel included band manager and television personality Louis Walsh, singer-songwriter Linda Martin and music executive Bill Hughes. The programme was broadcast on a weekly basis; starting on 15 November 2001 and ending on 17 February 2002. Following the conclusion of the series, Walsh became a judge on the second incarnation of the UK counterpart, titled Popstars: The Rivals.

Production

Following the success of Popstars: New Zealand, producers of the show decided to launch the show as an international franchise, with an Irish edition ordered in earlier 2001. Jonathan Dowling later signed on as creator and showrunner of the show, under the working title, Popstars: Ireland, which was later changed to Irish Popstars, before being changed once again to simply Popstars.[1] Dowling decided to sign Boyzone manager and television personality Louis Walsh, Eurovision-winner Linda Martin and international music executive Bill Hughes to be seated as the judges on the programme.[2]

With producers planning to have the series to be aired during the summer of 2001, however the series did not premiere until 15 November, broadcasting during the 2001–02 television season, with 13 weekly episodes ordered.[3] The first season concluded on 17 February 2002, with the series' band being named Six, with Sinéad Sheppard, Emma O'Driscoll, Kyle Anderson, Sarah Keating, Andy Orr and Liam McKenna being elected as the band members.[4]

The series is infamous for then-16-year old Nadine Coyle's appearance on the show; she was initially inducted into the band after the auditions, but was later asked to leave the show as it emerged she had lied about being 18 in order to participate; she was then replaced by Keating, who originally did not make it into the band.[5]

In mid-2002, it was announced that the show had been cancelled after just one season and would be replaced by new singing competition, You're a Star. Walsh meanwhile became a judge on the second incarnation of the UK series, titled Popstars: The Rivals, which aimed to create a girl group and a boyband who would compete for that year's Christmas number one spot on the UK Singles Chart. With Walsh's encouragement, Coyle reauditioned for the show and was voted by the public into the girl group Girls Aloud, managed by Walsh, eventually winning the competition with their song "Sound of the Underground".

Episodes

The series contained 13 episodes.[6] RTE released a 2-hour "feature length movie" compilation version of the series on VHS in 2002. It was never reissued or rebroadcast in Ireland, however the series was broadcast on ITV in the UK during the Saturday morning children's television programme, SMTV Live.

Episode Production Time slot Original air date Source
1"Auditions"101Saturday 9:00 pmNovember 15, 2001 (2001-11-15)[3]
The auditions kick off all around Ireland, in cities including Dublin and Sligo. The judges take interest into particular auditionee Nadine Coyle – but what is she who she says she is?
2"Top Artists Revealed"102Saturday 9:00 pmNovember 22, 2001 (2001-11-22)[7]
The top artists are revealed, which includes the incredible Nadine Coyle. The judges give the contestants hard challenges to complete to prove they have what it takes to join the future band.
3"The First Performances"103Saturday 9:00 pmNovember 29, 2001 (2001-11-29)[8]
The contestants prepare for their first live performances, but will nerves get the better of them? The judges take to their judging desk again to judge what they think of the hopeful's performances.
4"The Second Songs"104Saturday 9:00 pmDecember 6, 2001 (2001-12-06)[9]
It's the second week of the performances, and the hopefuls prepare for their amazing performances. The judges decide to take it easy on the contestants as they are underpressure.
5"Week Three"105Saturday 9:00 pmDecember 13, 2001 (2001-12-13)[10]
As the live performances continue, the third week is getting the contestants settled in, as they take to the stage with extraordinary performances.
6"The Fourth Week Goes"106Saturday 9:00 pmDecember 20, 2001 (2001-12-20)[11]
The fourth week continues and the contestants have been getting stronger every week. But is there something going on with Nadine Coyle?
7"The Truth Comes Out"107Saturday 9:00 pmDecember 27, 2001 (2001-12-27)[12]
The truth comes out for Nadine, and the contestants are one short. The judges decide to give the contestants challenging songs to prove their vocal ability and their true ability as singers.
8"2001 Goes, 2002 Comes"108Saturday 9:00 pmJanuary 3, 2002 (2002-01-03)[13]
To celebrate the new year, the contestants are allowed to pick their own songs - their favourites from 2001.
9"Another Week, Number 7"109Saturday 9:00 pmJanuary 10, 2002 (2002-01-10)[14]
The seventh week goes on, and the competition is even tougher than before. With secret song choices selected by the judges, it's up to the contestants to prove their worthy enough.
10"Live Week Eight"110Saturday 9:00 pmJanuary 17, 2002 (2002-01-17)[15]
The live performances continue, and it's the eighth week already! The remaining contestants must prove that they really want to win the competition.
11"The Quarter Final"111Saturday 9:00 pmJanuary 31, 2002 (2002-01-31)[16]
So close to the final, the quarters begin and the competition is tougher than ever. And the results show the hopeful's futures in the compeititon.
12"The Semi Final"112Saturday 9:00 pmFebruary 7, 2002 (2002-02-07)[17]
The semi finals begin and it's so close to the final. But who is safe and who is going home tonight?
13"The Live Grand Final"113Tuesday 9:00pmFebruary 17, 2002 (2002-02-17)[18]

References
  1. "Popstars: Ireland (TV Series 2001)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  2. "Linda Martin, Bill Hughes and Louis Walsh (2001)". stillslibrary.rte.ie. RTÉ Archives. 5 July 2012.
  3. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 1". TV.com.
  4. "Ireland's popstars Six head for UK". BBC News. 5 April 2002. Archived from the original on 11 July 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. "Sweet little lies". RTÉ One. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  6. "Popstars: Ireland". TV.com.
  7. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 2". TV.com.
  8. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 3". TV.com.
  9. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 4". TV.com.
  10. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 5". TV.com.
  11. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 6". TV.com.
  12. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 7". TV.com.
  13. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 8". TV.com.
  14. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 9". TV.com.
  15. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 10". TV.com.
  16. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 11". TV.com.
  17. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 12". TV.com.
  18. "Popstars: Ireland: Episode 13". TV.com.
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