After 15 years of success with One Direction, Simon Cowell and a former co-star will form a new boyband on a brand-new Netflix show.
Simon Cowell is to reunite with a former co-star for a brand new Netflix show. The music mogul, 65, was the king of the talent show format in the late 2000s as he headed up The X Factor and starred alongside Cheryl, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Tulisa amongst a host of others over its lengthy run.
During the long run of the ITV talent show, he discovered stars such as One Direction, Alexandra Burke, Olly Murs, Little Mix as well as scores of others. But before The X Factor began its run in 2004, Simon was actually a judge on Pop Idol, the original series that brought Gareth Gates, Will Young and Zoe Birkett to nationwide attention.
He was on the panel of the Ant and Dec-fronted programme alongside fellow record producer Pete Waterman, who has now revealed that the pair have been working together once again, this time heading up a programme titled The Next Act for the streaming giant, in which they will be on the hunt for a new boyband together.
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Pete mentioned the new series, which will be available as a six-parter in December this year, saying, “I have been filming with Simon for the show.
Pete famously created The Hit Factory in the 1980s alongside Matt Aitken and Mike Stock, and they launched pop acts such as Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Sonia to mainstream success.
In the late 1990s, Pete enjoyed further success with dance group Steps, and then joined Pop Idol in 2002 along with Simon, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox.
Speaking to the Daily Star, he added: “It’s great fun to be doing something together again. We are best mates. I agreed to do it straightaway. If Simon asked me to walk across hot coals, I’d do it!”
Pop Idol was a world-first because it made it possible for viewers to select a newcomer to land a record deal. Following Popstars, which revealed the steps involved in making a band with Hear ‘Say and saw Liberty X, which came in second place, also enjoying chart success.
The following year, viewers watched Popstars: The Rivals, which saw the creation of Girls Aloud as they battled against One True Voice for the Christmas number one.
Following Michelle McManus’ victory, Simon launched The X Factor on the network the following year, ending the Pop Idol franchise. More than ten years of the show were aired.
Pete insisted that he wanted to do it despite being advised against doing it on Pop Idol and acknowledged that Simon and him have a “love hate” relationship that makes everything work on camera.
He remarked, “It was a wonderful time. Everyone had mixed feelings about it. I was told not to do it by my own staff. But I made the effort. I anticipated a laugh when I took Simon on the road.
“I have always loved him with him.” That is what made Pop Idol to exist.
Source: Mirror
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