Pop Idol not set for comeback, ITV confirms

'Pop Idol' is not set for a comeback, ITV has confirmed.

Speaking at this year’s Edinburgh International TV Festival, the broadcaster’s head of entertainment commissioning Katie Rawcliffe said while it had been “talking about potentially a reunion show at some point”, the series itself is “not coming back”.

Ms Rawcliffe made the announcement while admitting she gets asked “weekly” whether a revival is on the cards.

One of the show’s judges, Neil 'Dr' Fox, had told The Sun a reunion was “certainly on the cards” to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary.

ITV bosses had been said to be “in talks” to bring back the show that spawned music careers for Gareth Gates, Will Young, Michelle McManus and Darius Danesh who died earlier this month.

But a source had told the Daily Star there was “absolutely no truth” in talk it would return as a series.

Yet there was speculation it could come back as a one-off show or anniversary special in 2023.

Online TV news sites started rumours the show, hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 46, would be back on screens by next year.

One said: “We 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.

“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.

“The series has not yet been formerly commissioned from ITV, and host(s) and judges are to be confirmed.”

'Pop Idol' ran from 2001 to 2003 but was put on hold when Simon Cowell, 62, launched The X Factor on ITV in 2004.

Fuller, 62, sued Cowell for copyright infringement over claims the now-axed 'X Factor' copied the 'Pop Idol' format.