Pop Idol 2 - Mark Rhodes

Mark is runner-up in Pop Idol final

Mark was beaten in the Pop Idol final on 20th December 2003 by Michelle.

Mark said: "I could not have done any better with the songs. I think I did myself justice. I'm proud of myself."

Mark, Michelle and a stripper

In the final week of Pop Idol, Mark had a surprise for Michelle.

"I sent her a stripper and she couldn't get him to stop as he didn't speak any English."

Mark wins place in Pop Idol final

On 13th December Mark, from Darlaston in the West Midlands, burst into tears when he discovered he had reached the final. In a shock result favourite Sam was voted off the show.

During the show Mark sang Take That’s Back for Good and Simply Red’s If You Don’t Know Me By Now.

Foxy and Nicki had said they thought Mark would be voted off - as they had done the previous week. Pete said he thought Michelle would go.

As ever with the last word, Simon was asked who he thought would go.

"I haven't got a clue," he replied.

Ant replied: "And it's taken you all this time to realise that."

Simon added: "I think there's going to be an upset this evening." He was right. Sam had been the bookies' favourite for the past several weeks.

And all four judges had predicted wrongly that Mark would be voted off the show the previous week.

After the show Mark said: "As soon as Michelle's name was said, I thought: "OK - fair enough." Then he was too emotional to say any more.

Mark and Simon

After the final Mark labelled Simon Cowell as "irrelevant".

Mark is convinced he's got what it takes to be a chart star - even though Simon had said Mark was "average".

The Yummy Brummie said: "The public no longer listen to what Simon Cowell thinks. Once his word might have been gospel, but not any more.

"People are making up their own minds, and deciding not to side with the judges. I'm determined to make it in the industry."

Mark's stalker

Pop Idol star Mark was given extra security because he was being stalked by an obsessed fan. Mark was being followed by a middle-aged woman who spent hours waiting for him outside Wembley's Fountain Studios.

She has even thrown herself in front of his chauffeur-driven limo in a desperate attempt to speak to him, and her presence in the front row at public events has unnerved the singer.

Mark said: "She threw herself in front of our car which screeched to a halt. Days later I spied her in the front row. It does scare me slightly."

Mark's stud muffin pants

Mark Rhodes was wearing his lucky stud muffin pants for the fifth audition show on 11th October. He sang She's Like the Wind. He got through to the final twelve with 20.3% of the votes - in second place.

Foxy told him: "I thought the performance was a little bit stilted."

Nicki said: "You absolutely delivered."

Pete told him: "You sang it incredibly well."

Simon said: "Great vocal. I don't see - looking at you - charisma."

And Pete told him that he couldn't do anything about that.