LONDON (Brand Republic) - Impressed by the results of the Popstars phenomenon, ITV is to try its luck a second time and has commissioned a new series that intends to find a solo artist and launch the successful candidate into the world of pop.
The new show -- working title Pop Idol -- will be produced by Pearson Television in conjunction with 19TV. In true reality-TV style, viewers will be allowed to vote for the young hopeful they would most like to become a solo pop sensation.
In Popstars, viewers watched ITV鈥檚 head of light entertainment Nigel Lythgoe ruthlessly weed out wannabe stars, earning him the nickname Nasty Nigel.
This time around, it is the turn of former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller. Fuller, of 19 Group which manages S Club 7, devised the format for the series in partnership with Simon Cowell, an A&R executive at RCA who is responsible for Westlife, Five and Robson & Jerome.
ITV said, 鈥淭he series will be supported by a 鈥榤assive鈥 multimedia campaign through TV, 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.鈥