Fame Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fame Academy |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Reality competition |
| Presented by | Patrick Kielty Cat Deeley |
| Judges | Richard Park Carrie Grant David Grant Robin Gibb |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Endemol |
| Running time | 60–120 mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One BBC Three |
| Original release | 4 October 2002 – 4 October 2003 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Comic Relief Does Fame Academy |
| Related shows | Star Academy (France) |
Fame Academy was a popular British television show where talented singers competed to become music stars. The show helped new artists learn and grow. Winners got an amazing chance to start a music career. They also became part of a bigger international show called Star Academy, which had different names in other countries.
In the UK, the winner received a huge prize. This included a £1 million recording contract with a major music company. They also got to use a fancy apartment in London and a sports car for a whole year! The BBC broadcast the show. The first series was won by David Sneddon. Alex Parks won the second and final series.
Later, in 2003, a special version called Comic Relief Does Fame Academy started. In this show, celebrities sang as students. All the money from phone votes went to charity.
Contents
How Fame Academy Worked
The idea for Fame Academy first came from a Spanish show called Operación Triunfo. This format was very successful around the world. It was especially popular in France, where it was known as Star Academy. A German version also called Fame Academy began in 2003.
Weekly Challenges and Eliminations
Each week, contestants performed songs. Based on how well they sang, they were either "safe" or in the "danger zone." If you were in the danger zone, the other contestants voted. This vote decided who would leave the show that week.
Watching Daily Life in the Academy
Fame Academy was also a reality television show. Viewers could watch the contestants' daily lives. This was possible through live streaming on Freeview. Many "spy cameras" were set up to film everything. You could watch the show on BBC One, BBC Three, BBC Prime, and CBBC. The CBBC version was even called CBBC at the Fame Academy.
The Idea Behind the Show
Many people thought Fame Academy was similar to other talent shows like Pop Idol and Popstars. However, the creators of Fame Academy wanted it to be different. They said it was more than just a singing contest.
Learning and Growing as Artists
Fame Academy focused on helping contestants develop their creative talents. The contestants were called "students" on the show. They were encouraged to write their own songs and music. They also improved their singing and performing skills. For ten weeks, the students lived in the Academy. They received a full musical education.
This education included many things:
- Individual vocal coaching with tutors like Carrie Grant and David Grant.
- Songwriting lessons.
- Personal development classes.
- Fitness and dancing classes.
- Workshops with music professionals.
Life Inside the Academy
The students lived at Witanhurst. This is a historic mansion in Highgate, London. It was specially decorated for the show. They had dormitory-style rooms, shared meals, and recreation areas.
The show was filmed like Big Brother. The students were completely cut off from the outside world. They could not leave the "Academy" without supervision. Cameras filmed them 24 hours a day.
Viewers who watched the live streams could see almost everything. Singing lessons, dance classes, rehearsals, and costume fittings were all filmed. You could also see their daily life, from waking up to going to sleep. This included mealtimes, relaxation, and even "private" moments. The way students interacted and the tensions that grew as fewer people remained added to the show's excitement. Highlights from the live streaming were also shown on CBBC and BBC Three spin-off shows.
Auditions and Performances
Over 12,000 people auditioned for the show. Music professionals and the production team held these auditions across the country. The auditions themselves were not shown on TV. The final group of contestants was introduced to the public in the first episode.
Students performed live on the main weekly shows. They sang alone, in pairs, or in groups. They performed cover songs chosen by the production team. Sometimes, songs written by the students themselves were also performed.
Changes in the Second Series
The second series of Fame Academy aired from July to October 2003. It felt more like Pop Idol. There was less focus on the students' education. Instead, the main focus was on their performances and the judges' opinions. This change happened because Fame Academy didn't get as many viewers as Pop Idol in 2002.
Teachers and judges shared their thoughts on the students' performances on TV. The audience at home voted to "save" their favorite student throughout the week. On Friday nights, there was a live show where one student left each week.
Series Winners and Presenters
| Series | Start | Finish | Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Presenters | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 October 2002 | 6 December 2002 | David Sneddon | Sinéad Quinn | Lemar Obika | Patrick Kielty Cat Deeley |
Richard Park Carrie Grant David Grant Robin Gibb |
| 2 | 26 July 2003 | 4 October 2003 | Alex Parks | Alistair Griffin | Carolynne Good |
Spin-off Shows
Fame Academy also had special spin-off shows for charity.
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
The first live Comic Relief Does Fame Academy show was on 7 March 2003. It lasted until Red Nose Day on 14 March. Will Mellor was announced as the winner.
On 26 February 2005, the show returned for a second time. During the Comic Relief show on 11 March (Red Nose Day), Edith Bowman won.
A third series of the Comic Relief show started on 3 March 2007. Cat Deeley did not return as host. Patrick Kielty hosted with Claudia Winkleman. This series ran nightly from 7 to 16 March (Red Nose Day). The winner of this series was Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.
Helping Young Musicians
A big goal of Fame Academy was to inspire young people to get into music. During the 2002 series, a project was started. It aimed to fund a charity using money from phone votes. This project became the Fame Academy Bursary. It is supported by Youth Music, British Council, and the BBC.
The Bursary gives out awards for instruments and equipment. It also offers three-year educational bursaries. These bursaries help people further their careers in music. The Bursary is still running, and anyone can apply.
