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 was born on May 8, 1980. She is a Scottish singer, writer, and TV and radio host. She became famous in 2003 when she won Pop Idol, a big talent show in the UK. Michelle made history in 2004. She was the first Scottish female artist to have her first song go straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Her first song, "All This Time", was a huge hit in January 2004. It went to number one in the UK. Her first album, The Meaning of Love, came out in February 2004. It reached number one in Scotland and number three in the UK. Later, her record company decided not to work with her anymore. So, in 2007, Michelle started her own record label called McMannii Records.

Michelle has also worked a lot in TV and radio. From 2009 to 2011, she co-hosted a TV show called The Hour. She also wrote for the Glasgow Times newspaper until 2018. In 2019, she released her second album, Michelle McManus' Winter Wonderland, which was a Christmas album. In 2023, she released a new song called "Christmas Glow". She also appeared in a BBC Scotland TV show about her Pop Idol journey. Since 2024, Michelle hosts The Entertainment Mix on BBC Scotland. She also has a radio show on BBC Radio Scotland.

Early Life and Dreams

Michelle McManus was born in 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland. Her parents are John and Helen McManus. She is the oldest of five sisters. Before she tried out for Pop Idol, Michelle lived in Baillieston, a part of Glasgow. She lived there with her family.

Her Journey on Pop Idol

Becoming a Star in 2003

In early 2003, Michelle tried out for the second season of Pop Idol. Thousands of other singers from all over the UK also auditioned. One of the judges, Pete Waterman, wasn't sure if she could make it. He worried about her size. But Simon Cowell, another judge, really liked her.

Michelle made it to the semi-finals. The public voted for her, and she got into the top twelve. Even though some people thought she wouldn't win, she kept going. She was only in the bottom three once during the finals. On December 20, 2003, Michelle McManus was announced as the winner of Pop Idol!

Michelle's Pop Idol Performances

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

Facing Criticism

After Michelle won Pop Idol, some people in the media and even one of the judges, Pete Waterman, were not happy. They said she wasn't talented enough. Some thought she won because people liked her personality, not just her singing. Michelle later said that she felt "hated in the media" because of how she looked.

Music and Media Career

2003–2007: First Album and Radio Work

After winning Pop Idol, Michelle signed with a record label. Her first song, "All This Time", came out in late 2003 and early 2004. It quickly went to number one in the UK and stayed there for three weeks. Michelle was the first Scottish woman to have her first song debut at number one.

Her first album, The Meaning of Love, was released in February 2004. It reached number one in Scotland and number three in the UK. The album sold well and earned a 'gold' award for selling over 100,000 copies. However, the second song from the album didn't do as well. Because of this, her record company decided to stop working with her.

In 2005, Michelle appeared on a TV show called You Are What You Eat. She also released a book about her journey and a DVD about healthy living. In 2006, Michelle started working in radio. She became a guest host on Clyde 1 and later got her own show. She also hosted shows for BBC Radio Scotland.

2007–2009: New Music and Acting

In 2007, Michelle released a song called "Just for You". It was meant to be on her second album, but that album was never officially released. She also appeared as herself in an episode of the BBC comedy show Still Game. Michelle also performed in musicals and plays, even touring in Asia.

2009–2012: TV Presenting and Columnist

Michelle became a regular co-host on the Scottish TV show The Hour in 2009. She hosted it with Stephen Jardine and later Tam Cowan. She also hosted special Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) shows for STV. Michelle also had her own shows on BBC Alba, a Scottish Gaelic TV channel.

In 2010, Michelle performed for Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the UK. She also wrote a column for the Glasgow Evening Times newspaper until 2018.

2012–Present: More Music and Documentaries

In 2012, Michelle sang on a song called "Take You There" with the band Mànran. It was for a charity appeal. Since 2012, Michelle has performed her own one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She has also performed with famous singers like Rod Stewart and Lulu.

In 2017, Michelle sang at the funeral of Martyn Hett, a victim of the Manchester bombing. Later that year, she joined a group called Choirs with Purpose to record a Christmas song. In 2019, Michelle released her second album, Michelle McManus' Winter Wonderland, which was a Christmas album.

In 2023, Michelle released a new Christmas song called "Christmas Glow". This marked 20 years since her Pop Idol win. She also made a BBC Scotland documentary called Michelle McManus: Talent Show Winners. It looked back at her career since Pop Idol. The show included interviews with stars like Robbie Williams and Susan Boyle. Michelle also hosted a Hogmanay show on BBC Scotland. In 2024, she started hosting a new entertainment show called The Entertainment Mix on BBC Scotland and a radio show on BBC Radio Scotland.

Personal Life

Michelle McManus married Jeff Nimmo on September 23, 2017. They have two children together. Michelle has 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. Robbie told her he had "never seen someone take the battering I did" in the media.

Michelle became well-known for her weight during Pop Idol. She believes her weight affected her career opportunities. She has since lost weight, saying she did it for her children.

Music Releases

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

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

Singles

As Lead Artist

As Featured Artist

Promotional Singles

TV Shows and Films