Michelle McManus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michelle McManus
McManus performing at the Glasgow East Woman of the Year, 2010
Background information
Born	(1980-05-08) 8 May 1980 (age 45) Glasgow, Scotland
Origin	Baillieston, Scotland
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer columnist television presenter radio broadcaster
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Sony BMG, 19, S (2003–2005) McManni (2007–present)

Michelle McManus (born 8 May 1980) is a Scottish singer, writer, and TV and radio host. She became famous in 2003 when she won Pop Idol, a big TV singing competition in the UK.

In January 2004, Michelle made history. Her first song, "All This Time", went straight to number one on the UK music charts. This made her the first Scottish female singer to have a debut song reach the top spot. Her first album, The Meaning of Love, also did very well, reaching number one in Scotland and number three in the UK.

After a few years, Michelle started her own music company called McMannii Records. She also began working in TV and radio. She hosted shows like The Hour on STV and wrote for the Glasgow Times. Today, she hosts the Afternoon radio show on BBC Radio Scotland and The Entertainment Mix on BBC Scotland. In 2023, a BBC Scotland documentary called Michelle McManus: Talent Show Winners looked back at her journey since Pop Idol.

Early Life

Michelle McManus was born in 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland. She grew up with her parents, John and Helen McManus, and is the oldest of five sisters. Before she became famous on Pop Idol, Michelle lived in the Baillieston area of Glasgow.

Career Highlights

Becoming a Pop Idol

In 2003, Michelle tried out for the second season of Pop Idol. Thousands of people auditioned, but Michelle stood out. One of the judges, Pete Waterman, wasn't sure if she could make it in music because of her size. However, another judge, Simon Cowell, liked her.

The public voted Michelle into the top twelve finalists. Even though she was not expected to win, she kept getting votes. She only landed in the bottom three once during the finals. On 20 December 2003, Michelle McManus was announced as the winner of Pop Idol!

Michelle's Pop Idol Songs

Here are some of the songs Michelle sang on Pop Idol:

Reactions to Her Win

Record producer and Pop Idol judge, Pete Waterman, was highly critical of McManus and her subsequent win

When Michelle won, some people, like judge Pete Waterman, were surprised. He even called her "rubbish." Other critics thought she won more because of her personality and how the public connected with her, rather than just her singing voice. Some felt that the public voted for her because she was relatable, not because she was the best singer.

Music and Media Work (2003–2009)

After winning Pop Idol, Michelle signed with Sony BMG records. Her first song, "All This Time", was a huge hit, staying at number one in the UK for three weeks. Her first album, The Meaning of Love, also sold very well and was certified gold.

However, her record company later decided to stop working with her. Michelle believed this was because of her weight, as they felt they couldn't market her image easily. In 2007, she started her own record label, McMannii Records.

Michelle also appeared on TV shows like You Are What You Eat, where she worked on her health. She wrote a book about her journey and released a DVD about healthy living. She also started working in radio, hosting shows on Clyde 1 and BBC Radio Scotland. In 2007, she even had a guest role in the BBC sitcom Still Game.

TV Hosting and Other Projects (2009–Present)

From 2009 to 2011, Michelle was a co-host on The Hour, a Scottish lifestyle TV show. She also hosted special Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) shows for STV.

Michelle has performed at big events, including for Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. She also wrote a column for the Glasgow Times newspaper for many years.

In 2012, Michelle sang on a charity single called "Take You There" with the band Mànran. She also started performing her own one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which were very popular. She even performed with famous singers like Rod Stewart and Lulu.

In 2019, Michelle released her second album, a Christmas album called Michelle McManus' Winter Wonderland. In 2023, she released another Christmas song, "Christmas Glow", to celebrate 20 years since her Pop Idol win. This led to a BBC Scotland documentary about her career called Michelle McManus: Talent Show Winners.

Michelle continues to be a busy TV and radio presenter. In 2024, she started hosting The Entertainment Mix on BBC Scotland and a new radio show on BBC Radio Scotland. In 2025, it was announced she would join Robbie Williams for a performance during his tour in Edinburgh.

Personal Life

Michelle McManus married Jeff Nimmo on 23 September 2017. They have two children together.

Michelle has spoken about how her weight and appearance were often discussed during her time on Pop Idol and afterwards. She felt that the media was sometimes unkind to her. She has since lost weight, saying she did it for her children.

Michelle also shared that she had a brief friendship with singer Robbie Williams after her Pop Idol win. She said he was very kind to her when she was facing a lot of criticism. They reconnected in 2022, and Robbie appeared in her Talent Show Winners documentary.

Concert Tours

Supporting

• Robbie Williams – Britpop Tour (Edinburgh only; 2025)

Discography

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

• Pop Idol: The Idols – Xmas Factor (2003)

Singles

As Lead Artist

As Featured Artist

Promotional Singles

TV Shows and Films