These days TV talent shows are everywhere. If it's not Pop Idol it's X Factor or American Idol or something. But these shows aren't altogether new. The Brits here will remember Talent contests like Opportunity Knocks or New Faces with Marti Cain, God rest her soul. But while very few of the contestants, the winners as well for that matter, find stardom after the series ends, there have been some famous names to come from such shows. Pam Ayres and Lena Zaveroni are two that I'm very familiar with. Not forgetting Carrie Underwood, Katherine McPhee and Girls Aloud. And of course - One Direction.
Anyone else? Over to you!
As a child, it was really Opportunity Knocks and New Faces that I remember. When Toni Warne appeared on the first series of The Voice, I remembered her as the child singer who'd appeared on Opportunity Knocks. Tara MacDonald was another one I remember. I wonder what she's doing now.
Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Camila Cabello are some that come to mind.
think everyone's mentioned everyone that I can think of who has come from a TV reality show. But my favourite without a doubt has got to be Joss Stone.
There were two acts from X Factor: a rock singer called Tabby and a duo called Journey South. I thought they were both excellent. Neither of them won and I don't know what they're doing now. It seems that shows like the X Factor don't want anyone with a bit of originality and would prefer to churn out the same old type of artist... who eventually ends up going nowhere!
Oh and how can I forget Rylan from my hometown of Essex? Pure Essex and so lovely. Even though he's not a singer now I'm glad he's doing well with the presenting. And I have no idea what boring old git Gary Barlow was on about - Rylan was always on fire every week!
I've always liked TV talent shows and I'm glad that it's a Tv genre that's still going strong today. I think they really started to gain momentum, in the UK at least, around 2000 I think. We were all hooked on Popstars and seeing Hearsay being put together, then we had Popstars the rivals were we saw Girls aloud formed and then it really took off from there with X Factor, BGT etc.
A lot of famous people appeared on talent shows - Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Aaliyah, Britney Spears, JLS, Diversity, Brenda Edwards, Stacey Soloman, Leona Lewis... These shows have been a great platform for new talent to be discovered.
Britney, Justin, Christina, Fifth Harmony, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson... There's tons of American stars who found fame on talent shows.
The breathtakingly beautiful Patti Boulaye! I fell in love with her after seeing her on New Faces in 1978 (just don't tell the missus that! And funny that - the missus weren't even born then!) What a voice she had and that big beaming smile. She is definitely a very underrated star.
Anyone remember Fame Academy? Well even though he didn't win - no idea why - I would have to say Lemar. I can't believe it's been more than twenty years since he was on that. Amazing talent, gorgeous eyes, and goodness what a voice!
Oh and we can't forget Bonnie Langford! Even though she were on Opportunity Knocks before I were born, I know that's how she started out.
Yeah Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aitken, Adam Lambert they all found fame on talent shows and made it pretty big.
Little Mix, One Direction... Even Britney, Christina and Justin all were on talent shows.
A lot of people forget that Joss Stone first made a name for herself on a talent show called Star For a Night. And my goodness did she become a star! I admire everything about Joss, her style, image, voice, range, and the fact that she made it BIG! I am quite a fan! 😊
Over here in Australia, we've got Bonnie Anderson, Jai Waetford, and Daniel O' Connor all of whom should be known by British folk because they all appeared in Neighbours! But they were first introduced to the Australian public through shows like Australian Idol.
There was of course Girls Aloud over in Britain who did a lot better than their predecessors Hearsay. I think both groups came from a show called Pop Stars. But out of Hearsay, it seems that Myleene and Kim are both still in the public eye.