Pop Idol, and the series remains one of its most famous. Evergreen singer Will would be crowned victorious on the show, defeating shy Yorkshire teenager Gareth in a tense finale, hosted by Ant and Dec.
The series saw Rik Waller eliminated after two weeks, before 22-year-old Will, 17-year-old Gareth and extravagant Glaswegian Darius made the final.
14 million watched the live final in 2001, with over 50 per cent backing Will as winner, with his version of Evergreen being released as his pop career was launched.
Gareth, meanwhile, had 46 per cent of the vote - so where are their rivals on the show now? It has been two decades, and countless editions of The X Factor, since reality TV changed as we know it.
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