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

• as of the start of the series

Heats and live shows

Results summary

Live show details

Heat 1 (13 September- Recorded on 10 September 2003)

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

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

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

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

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.

Live show 1 (25 October)

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.

Live show 2 (1 November)

Live show 3 (8 November)

Live show 4 (15 November)

Live show 5 (22 November)

Live show 6 (29 November)

Live show 7 (6 December)

Live show 8 (13 December)

Final (20 December)

Reception

Ratings