ITV is reportedly set to bring back the popular talent show Popstars, 21 years after its axe from TV.
According to The Sun, a big budget new talent show is in the works as ITV bosses are on the lookout for the “next One Direction”.
ITV Popstars, which launched in 2001, followed the audition process of young and talented artists who were looking to reach stardom.
Popstars launched the careers of popular girl groups Girls Aloud and Hear’Say.
The rumoured upcoming talent show, which has yet to be named, was reportedly created by ex ITV bosses, including Nigel Hall, former Head of Light Entertainment at ITV and former executive producer on Britain’s Got Talent and Popstars: The Rivals.
Mr Hall was also top executive at Simon Cowell’s media firm Syco, which helped launch the careers of One Direction and Little Mix – who were both formed on The X Factor.
A TV insider told the publication: “First ITV brought back Big Brother, then the BBC brought back Survivor. Now this might form the holy trinity of big shows from two decades ago.”
“There’s been a boom in popularity for programmes from that time among Millennials. But what they want is to go back to the origins of these shows.”
“X Factor may be the best known and most recent talent contest, but it was Popstars that kicked it all off.”
Contestants are being sought by a new company called Moon&Back, led by Mr Hall, Russ Lindsay and Dawn Airey – Ant and Dec’s former manager and the ex-director of ITV’s global content.
However, it also warns: “Substantial travel will be involved and successful applicants will be residing outside of the UK from January to July 2024.”
