POP IDOL: ELLIE GOULDING AND MNEK EYED UP AS POTENTIAL JUDGES FOR ITV REVIVAL

As revealed exclusively by TV Zone and Super TV yesterday, ITV are in the early stages of talks about reviving music competition Pop Idol in 2023.

TV Zone and Super TV understand that ITV expressed interest in the format before Christmas and entered fresh talks earlier this week with execs from America, Holland and Sweden - including original creator Simon Fuller.

It's now reported by Super TV that potential names being discussed to join the judging panel include popstar Ellie Goulding and singer songwriter MNEK.

The original series were judged by Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman, Pete Waterman and Simon Cowell. A total of 46 episodes were broadcast over 2 series.

The Pop Idol format was created by Simon Fuller, who also served as Executive Producer. The series was hosted by Ant & Dec and ran on ITV from 2001 to 2003.

ITV are understood to be interested in rebooting the series for a special season in Autumn 2023 to mark 20 years since it was last on UK TV. They are reported looking closely at existing international versions such as American Idol and Deutschland Superstar and how to adapt the format for the UK revival.

The series has not yet been formerly commissioned from ITV, and host(s) and judges are to be confirmed. ITV did not deny these reports when approached by TV Zone.

The series was put on hiatus in 2004 after Simon Cowell broke away from the show to launch The X Factor. The format then went global with American Idol, Australian Idol, Canadian Idol and Indonesian Idol to name a few.

The series could lead to more series and become a successor to The X Factor, which last aired on ITV in 2019. In a statement last Summer, ITV said: "There are no current plans for the next series of The X Factor at this stage."

Meanwhile, ITV's current singing contest The Voice UK, hosted by Emma Willis, returns this Summer. More details will be revealed in due course.