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| Show 6 - November 29th 2003 (Big Band Night) |
| Tonight's show began with Ant and Dec trumpeting away...goodness gracious! How do they allow things like that to go out before 9pm? |
| On the plus side we knew things could only get better because tonight's theme is the Big Band sound and the Pop Idol hopefuls are really going to be put to the test. |
| The five contestants were paraded onstage, all done up to the nines...but after nine tonight which of them would be done in? |
| Click on a links below to read more about the corresponding sections of tonight's show... |
| Most of the final five haven't performed in front of a big band before so to get a feel for the whole thing they met up with their 18 piece backing machine for some serious rehearsing. |
| They had some fun for the cameras though when they all had a go at being a band member: There was Michelle on drums, Susanne on trombone, Chris on saxophone, Sam on double bass and there was Mark fiendishly waving his baton as everybody prayed that Saturday night would sound better than this. Thankfully it did! Performance-wise tonight turned out to be one of the best nights ever! |
| Michelle felt really relaxed during Big Band rehearsals. She's singing one of her favourite songs of all time and really looking forward to it. |
| On stage she looked great in her glitzy sequined poncho, she may have been 'Feeling Good' but she sounded fantastic, and really let go towards the end of the song. We know Simon loves her, but did she win Foxy over tonight?... |
| Foxy: Wow, Michelle I always had a funny feeling that you were going to rise to the challenge of a big band and you did not disappoint, that was sensational. And I got an email from someone who said this week that said 'Lay off Michelle about the way she looks, because you men are always banging on that size doesn't matter' and I couldn't agree with her more. You looked great tonight; you are beginning to become a diva! |
| Nicki: Michelle, Feeling good, looking good, I should say but singing great! It was absolutely fantastic and we actually saw emotion and sexiness in your voice and I think you really delivered that song. |
| Pete: Michelle, singing is about enjoying yourself and you enjoyed yourself and you showed us that you did. Well done! |
| Simon: Well Michelle! Erm, I think like Sam last week there comes a point in the competition where either you're out of your depth or you put your mark on it. For me tonight you put your mark...you put your stamp on the competition and said I deserve to be here and I could win this. |
| Michelle greets Ant and Dec with a kiss each. |
| Michelle: I think you boys deserve a kiss this week. |
| Ant: Oh we get a kiss this week...mwaahh...thank you very much. |
| Michelle: It's about time, I know you've been waiting for it for weeks. |
| Ant: Well done...brilliant... |
| Michelle: Thank you, thank you. |
| Ant: ...great start to the show. Fantastic comments from the judges there. Are you pleased about that? |
| Michelle: Very, very pleased! |
| Dec: I thought it was an amazing start too. You've been looking forward to this week haven't you, for a long time? |
| Michelle: Really...and this is...yeah, I really have been looking forward to the Big Band, because this is one of the main reasons why I entered Pop Idol. Last year, watching Big Band, it just looked absolutely amazing and these guys are fantastic to work with. I mean you can hear them, and I was just really excited about tonight. You know I just...for once I wasn't really nervous coming out. I wanted to come out and do it and you know 'whatever happened happened' and I was kind of standing at the side of the stage waiting to come out... |
| Ant: Mmm, it sounded brilliant tonight. Now I've got to say Michelle we've got a little surprise for you... |
| Ant takes a look back at some photos of Michelle growing up, charting her life, her hairstyles and many differing guises. |
| Ant: I think my favourite look is the Gothic look. That's me favourite... |
| Michelle: Did you boys not see what I did to Andy and Brian before. |
| Dec: Oh now come on, play nice. |
| Ant: We've done it to everyone else Michelle, don't have a go at us! |
| Michelle: Oh no...this is war, this is war...oh no! (They all laugh) |
| Ant: Do you know, I'm not looking forward to next week's show! |
| Michelle: If I get through boys...your Christmas will certainly be coming early, put it that way! (More laughs) |
| Dec: Ladies and Gentlemen, Michelle! |
| Chris loves swing music and had great fun during the rehearsals. He's really been looking forward to tonight. He obviously enjoyed his performance; he moved well around on stage and did plenty of nifty hand-to-hand switching of the microphone. How would the panel react to the new cooler Chris?... |
| Nicki: Great specs, smart suit you looke fantastic tonight. And a few weeks ago when you were moving around that stage, I think it was the disco week, we said 'you didn't look quite right' - I think tonight we found a type of music that you love,... |
| Nicki: ...a style that you can sing in and the most amazing vocal. It worked for me you looked brilliant up there, I thought it was tremendous. |
| Pete: Chris, Nicki's said everything and you know, I can't but echo. That is...you just looked like you were having a ball... |
| Pete: You looked like you don't care if you go home tonight...but you ain't going home son, not with that performance! |
| Foxy: Chris I can almost imagine the headlines in the paper tomorrow, it'll be "The vicar just got slicker!" (laughter). |
| Chris: Have you...how long have you had that for...ages? |
| Pete: Two years, he's been waiting... |
| Foxy: No I've just...I've said some harsh things over the weeks to you, but I think suddenly you've found your style of music and this is you. And er, it was brilliant! I loved it, well done! |
| Simon: Pete said to me at the beginning of the show. "This show is getting weirder by the week and it is, but I liked it. You know what you were? Eric Morecambe does Dean Martin...but it sort of works |
| Pete: Joe 90 does Dean Martin...I got it...love it! |
| Simon: (to Pete) Thank you. (to Chris) Erm and I have to say this Chris, you know I have given you a bit of a hard time over the past few weeks but I think you are one of the reasons why this show is working so well this year. Because I think if you were to go the competition wouldn't be the same so what I'm saying is I like you now! (Big grin from Simon and from Chris!) |
| Chris walks over to join Ant and Dec. |
| Dec: How are you doing mate, are you alright? |
| Chris: Yeah that was wicked, that was so much fun. |
| Dec: I mean I know we said before that Michelle had been looking forward to this week because it suits her style but you're a big swing fan. |
| Chris: Oh I love it. I mean I think it's because I've always played Jazz, the reason might be the band, sax, so yeah. Oh! That was great! That was great. |
| Ant: (in a funny voice) And Simon liiiikes you! He liiikes you, liiikes you. He liiiiiikes you! |
| Chris: It didn't take too long did it? |
| Ant: It only took about twenty odd weeks or whatever! He likes you now though...(we see a shot of a tight lipped Simon Cowell next to an amused Pete Waterman) |
| Ant: ...which is good. Now well done! |
| Next it's turn to have a look at Chris' album which included a cute picture of baby Chris and a video clip of Chris playing a plant in a production of "The Little Shop Of Horrors" He was barely recognisable apart from his tonsils. |
| Chris: Oh dear! They could have dragged out worse I'm sure! |
| Ant: Oh really, they could have got worse? |
| Ant: Well we're doing it again next week yea. |
| Dec: So you're happy with the performance...with all the comments? |
| Chris: Yes fantastic, it went really well, yeah. |
| Dec: Great stuff. It's off to the public now to decide. Ladies and Gentlemen, that's been Chris! |
| Susanne has some experience of performing with a band and she loves it. She also feels that she's got quite a jazzy voice and tonight's song is ideal for her. |
| She's had a tough week with the press but all that was behind her as she stepped onstage. She looked absolutely beautiful in her gleaming off the shoulder dress with sparkling necklace. This was probably the most comfortable we've seen Susanne looking onstage. |
| Susanne said she couldn't wait to get out there and 'sock it to them' tonight and she did just that. |
| Pete: Well Susanne, there's big band songs and there's this song, I love this song, originally a hit with Julie London and I think you've come into some pretty unfair criticism this week, I think people have been very rude to you, and I don't know why that is because we sit here every week as judges...we haven't seen you bullying anybody or beating anybody up and you look normal to me, the same as we met you for the first time... |
| Simon: Apart from the drowning of the puppies. |
| Pete: ...oh yea, the puppies, yeah, I forgot that. Erm...but you were very brave tonight with that choice and it is different and I think that will keep you in this week for sure, well done! |
| Foxy: Susanne you do look like a fifties, pouting, sex symbol film star out there, which is... |
| Susanne: I don't do skinny ...this dress was made for skinny people. (laughs) |
| Foxy: ...no you look fabulous...every second...every minute you're gonna burst into 'Happy Birthday Mr President' or something like that. But I thought you were great tonight great song. You've always taken a bit of a risk but and I think you've pulled it off brilliantly. |
| Susanne: Thank you. Thank you. |
| Nicki: A beautiful song with a beautiful look. You look absolutely stunning up there. Erm you've had some really erratic weeks I think and last week you were much stronger and I think this week you've been stronger. I think the other two for me might have been pipped, because of their performances was just so outstanding. But it was again...it was very good Susanne, very good. |
| Simon: Ahh, Susanne, I think you may have a problem this week. I think if the show (audience boos lightly) thank you! I think if the show was called Lip Idol you'd win. (Susanne laughs nervously) Because I've got to say you look fabulous up there, but I dunno, it didn't quite do it for me. |
| Susanne: Okay. Thank you. |
| Dec invites Susanne to take a seat with himself and Ant. |
| Dec: How are you? Alright? |
| Susanne: Yeah, no I'm good, I'm good? |
| Dec: Good. Now Pete mentioned it there, I mean there has been a bit of unwanted kind of media attention this week. Have you been able to cope? |
| Susanne: Erm, I haven't read it. I...I've made kind of a...everyone deals with it differently and I've dealt with being in the show by not reading anything. |
| Susanne: So I woke up Monday morning and I had a phone ...I had about 83 texts in... "What's this about you" and I was just like "What?" and just for the record it's not true. Me and Michelle get on really well, she's a top, top girl! And so I just kind of...head down, ignored it really. |
| Ant: Good. I'm glad we cleared that up. Well, 'well done' tonight Susanne. I'm afraid you're not going to get off with it though, because you did look fabulous tonight and I know you're a dedicated follower of fashion, but we didn't realise at what an early age you started. Let's take a look at your photos. |
| We are treated to some lovely photos of Susanne; first a lovely snap of her as a rosy cheeked baby followed by Susanne sporting a variety hairstyles and spectacles. Susanne didn't seem to be too embarrassed and couldn't stop laughing at they showed the snaps. |
| Dec: Is that possibly the most gruesome experience of your life? |
| Susanne: It would be if I weren't sitting here after two hours in hair and make-up. (The all laugh) |
| Dec: Well you look fabulous tonight. Well done. Ladies and Gentlemen Susanne! |
| This is the week Mark has been looking forward to so he can showcase his talent. He has said that Big Band is one of the reasons he entered the competition. |
| He sang well and looked like he was having great fun onstage tonight. He finished with a flourish, punctuating the last beat with a little kick in the air. |
| Foxy: Oh Mark, this is turning out to be a brilliant TV show tonight. The band has lifted everyone and well done. You wanted to showcase your sing-ing talents and I think you did. Erm if you were a Londoner I think you'd be a 'cheeky chappie', I dunno perhaps from your neck of the woods you're the 'yummy brummie'. I don't know wha...y'know... |
| Foxy: Sorry, look ...I think you're good, I think your voice really suited that and it was a great performance, what can I say, well done! |
| Nicki: This show is my favourite in the last series because of the Big Band, and I think it's going to be on this one, I mean it's tremendous and it's so difficult to judge you all because you're all getting better and better. This is a great week for you, very good song, you picked a really good song and I don't know what else to say it was fantastic! |
| Pete: Mark, well honestly you enjoyed it and did a good performance. I don't know this song because I didn't see Bridget Jones and I've never heard it by Frank Sinatra. There are greater songs that I would have picked to 'talent' and enjoy yourself. But 'ey everybody else enjoyed it and you were great, I just think the song was weak mate. |
| Mark: Yeah, okay. (boos) Don't boo him! He's quite nice to me actually. |
| Foxy: You've never seen Bridget Jones...oh it's great! |
| Simon: I don't know why they're booing...you were nice. |
| Nicki: You were nice about him. |
| Mark: Who hasn't seen Bridget Jones? Who has seen Bridget Jones? (audience cheers) Okay! |
| Simon: Yes, thank you Mark! I actually think you did very well there. Erm, first of all, first of all I wasn't a fan of you because you were too normal...now I like you because you are normal! |
| Mark: Thank you...I think? |
| Simon: If that makes sense? |
| Dec: (shouts across) Absolutely not! |
| Declan invites Mark over to join himself and Ant. |
| Dec: I think...I think...I think the word you use to describe that is...fickle! (Simon nods in agreement.)...They picked up on your choice of song there. How hard was it to pick a song from this? |
| Mark: Erm, it wasn't really difficult for me because I knew that Bridget Jones' diary was such a popular film with all the ladies and some gents. |
| Dec: With those who are with it...is what you're trying to say? |
| Ant: I haven't...I haven't seen Bridget Jones. |
| Dec: Neither have I. (Everyone laughs). |
| Mark: You wasn't supposed to say that! |
| Ant: We can rent the video Pete and all go around mine! |
| Pete: I 'm doing it tomorrow mate! |
| Mark: No, erm Robbie Williams is one of my favourite artists and he did a good job of that, so I thought yeah. It's as good a song as any, so... |
| Ant: Well you certainly enjoyed yourself up there, everybody is this week... |
| Mark: Oh yeah! These guys are brilliant, they bring the best out of you...so...yeah. |
| Ant: Certainly lifted the whole thing...Now then Mark you know we've got a little surprise for every contestant this week and yours...yours is a gem. I think it's me favourite. Take a look at this! |
| The clip of Mark in his formative years is really good. We see many versions of Mark; as a baby, as a toddler on a donkey, as a sentry, as a Robin Hood, as a clown. However, by far the best bit was some video of a young Mark in his classroom reading a letter which he appears to have sent to a TV news producer. |
| The letter read "Dear producer, please, please can we have more good news. Every time I watch the news it's always bad news. The other week I watched it and it was about a girl and her dad was bashing her! Why can't we have good things? Yours sincerely, Mark Rhodes, aged 8 years old." It was a precious TV moment which was sure to generate some gentle teasing from Ant and Dec. |
| Dec: arrh, what about that? Dear TV Producer... |
| Mark: (in baby voice) Mark Rho-eds eight years old! |
| Ant: That was quality that! |
| Mark: ...(slightly embarrassed) for you maybe! |
| Dec: Happy, happy memories! |
| Mark: ...yeah it was good. It was good. |
| Dec: Ladies and Gentlemen, that's Mark! |
| Mark: ...cheers guys, thanks a lot! |
| Sam was keen to impress the Big Band musicians tonight. He said he chose 'Mr Bojangles' because although it's a sad song, the way it builds up "makes you feel good". |
| Sam on stage was looking smarter than we've ever seen him. |
| He gave a confident, passionate performance and displayed a great vocal range. The audience loved him and so did the panel... |
| Nicki: Good reception for you tonight Sam. It's interesting because you're the youngest person in this competition, seventeen, and I think you picked probably the most mature song to sing. Very, very difficult, erm you sounded nervous at the beginning and you shouldn't be because when you got into it you were absolutely sensational. Fantastic Sam! |
| Foxy: Sam I think you sort of became a man tonight if you know what I mean. Seeing you there in a different...(audience start laughing)...no seriously, you're a young guy, but singing a very old song, dressed up in a suit. You look fantastic. I think you are a 17 year old superstar in the making and I reckon you could win this. |
| Sam: (silently mouths) Thank you. |
| Simon: I'd just like Pete to do that again, with the funny look on your face. Do it again? Go on? |
| Pete: You've had enough rise out of me tonight I think! (Audience laughs) |
| Simon: Why don't you say winner with a smile on your face? (Mocking Pete with a serious face: ) Winner!...(To Sam now) Erm I think you've booked your place in the final, you're safe, you're through. |
| Sam: Thank you, thank you. |
| Dec: Alright mate...you look like you're gonna fall over there! |
| Sam: Oh man, me knees are all wobbly! (laughs) |
| Ant: A little bit shocked by that response? |
| Sam: Yeah, it's just...it's just been an amazing night, everybody is just wicked and to get those comments that...it really is amazing. |
| Ant: How does it feel when you hear people say stuff like that, that you could potentially win it? |
| Sam: It's incredible, it really is, I mean especially with it being such a tight competition. It really is, so it's nice for them to say that, but obviously you've got to keep your feet on the ground, so you can't just... |
| Dec: You've got to keep giving great performances. |
| Dec: And er, I mean it's good for...it's easy for you because you've always been a great performer haven't you? |
| Sam: (pats Dec on the knee) Bless you! |
| Dec: Since you were a wee one! |
| Sam: (sensing what's coming!) Oh god. |
| Ant: In fact you were a born performer weren't you Sam. Yes...take a look at this. |
| Next we view Sam's childhood clips. The best bit is where a young Sam is videoed doing his James Bond impression. "I want a Martini please, shaken not stirred!" and when young Sam gave the camera a happy grin we could see that the Barnsley boy hasn't really changed that much! |
| Ant: Arrh, and I've got to explain to everybody, the music we played under all their clips was the first single you ever bought. And the first single you bought was...? |
| Sam: Eternal love by PJ and Duncan. |
| Ant: This guys got taste everybody, he'll go far! |
| Dec: Arrh, absolutely love it. |
| Sam: Great single - (touching his heart) got me right there. It did, it did honestly. |
| Dec: Well done tonight mate. |
| Dec: And the best of luck tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen, that's Sam! |
| As has become customary now for the first half of the results show we viewers were given another Pop Idol treat. |
| Last season's Pop Idol runner up Gareth Gates was introduced onstage and given a great reception. He had a few words with Ant and Dec before performing his latest single and he reflected upon his time as a Pop Idol contestant. Brave as ever, he told them he was glad to have the opportunity to practice his speech in a situation he found difficult before. |
| Gareth acknowledged that he was feeling especially nervous tonight but he has really progressed in controlling his stammer and did a fine interview. Something that was emphasised all the more when we were shown his "best bits" from Pop Idol I. (Apparently they weren't shown at the time because he was runner-up). |
| The video-montage of his "best bits" brought back some magic memories; his first audition when he determinedly struggled to say his first name, the bit where he opened and shut the Pop Idol 1 finalists' hotel window to alternately release and block out the noise of the fans who were screaming outside, and the tears he shed when Zoe Birkett was eliminated from the contest. |
| After enjoying his "best bits" Gareth sang out the first half of the results show with his new single "Say It Isn't So" which is to be released on Monday (1st Dec). |
| Before the show cut to the adverts Declan announced that the phone lines had closed on the biggest vote of the series so far! |
| The Predictions As the final part of the show commenced and with the public verdict imminent, it was time to hear the judges predictions. |
| Simon: Roxanne....I mean Susanne (wake up Simon!) |
| Like last week Ant and Dec spoke to each contestant in turn to remind them of their performance and the judge's remarks. Next it was time to find out who was safe. First to be announced was Chris, next Sam, then Michelle. |
So, it was now between Mark and Susanne.
Declan said those dreaded words "The person going home this evening is ...(10 second pause)...Susanne!"
(As the judges correctly predicted...for a change!). |
| Wearing a big smile Susanne bounded up from her seat to greet Ant and Dec centre-stage. "I'm fine" she assured them and she looked fine as she grinned all the way through the showing of her "best bits". |
| She described her Pop Idol journey as "an absolute experience from flipping start to finish..." Dec asked her if she expected to get so far in the contest. "Absolutely not a hope." said Susanne, "I mean I was thinking maybe the final 100 if I'm incredibly lucky. Which is why I just can't get upset, because I'm in the final five. And tonight to go out with those four who are blatantly better than me...it's just been such an amazing experience." |
| After saying thank you to everybody Susanne went over to meet what is now the final four. And who would be the first to greet her with a hug? Michelle of course! If the newspapers listened to 8 year old Mark Rhodes' appeal for some 'good news' they might even write about it on Monday! |
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