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Reality TV has often provided a springboard and career saver for many of today's celebrities, but for each success story there are at least twice as many failures. Strictly may have relaunched Alesha Dixon's pop career, but Keith Harris & Orville's stardom never recovered after they appeared together on The Farm. We may all remember Leona Lewis, but what ever happened to Michelle McManus and Steve Brookstein? In tribute to the long lost stars TV of old, here's a list of Digital Spy's favourite forgotten faces!
For a brief period in the mid-90s, rotund ground services manager Spake was one of the most recognisable figures on TV. The camp star of BBC docu-soap Airport was credited with starting the craze for reality TV alongside Driving School's Maureen Rees. He went on to host a string of BBC shows, published a book and is still available for hire as a public speaker. But sadly over a decade later, most wouldn't recognise Spake if he served them at their local Tesco. How the mighty have fallen!
Nikki Chapman, 'Nasty' Nigel Lythgoe and Paul Adam selected former cleaner Danny Foster for stardom in 2001 when they created Hear'Say on ITV's Popstars. The band enjoyed huge success for a very brief period, but public interest in the first reality TV pop group faded fast. While Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw and Myleene Klass went on to greater things, Danny's remained quiet since the split. He made brief cameos on reality shows The Games and Trust Me I'm A Beauty Therapist and claims to be working on new music on his website. Unfortunately, most only remember him these days as "that guy who looked a bit like Shrek".
David Sneddon wasn't even supposed to be in the final 12 of BBC's Fame Academy, only stepping in when Naomi Roper fell ill. However, the bland Scottish singer-songwriter managed to overcome this hurdle and beat off all competitors to win the show crown. He scored a number one with first single 'Stop The Living The Lie', but to date he's never followed up his debut album Seven Years - Ten Weeks. He is still toiling away in the music industry today, but with pitiful commercial gains. Rubbing salt in Sneddo's wounds is fellow Academy alumni Lemar, who only finished third, but has gone on to have considerable chart success.
After the surprise popularity of the first installment of Big Brother, applicants for the second series expected fame to land on their laps. Paul 'Bubble' Ferguson, whose most distinctive feature was his penchant for silly hats, was the early favourite to win the series with support from The Sun newspaper. However, after getting the boot from the public, Bubble was reduced to playing the student circuit and cameo TV slots which mocked his short-lived fame. According to Wiki, he now hosts an online show called Bubble's Bath. We doubt it will be appearing on the Beeb anytime soon.
Former pop flop Mikey Green makes the top of our list for his persistence with dreadful reality shows. After failing to make the final cut of Popstars: The Rivals and forming bargain bin boyband Phixx, he attempted to revive his career with E4's Fooling Around With..., The Farm and Celebrity Wrestling. Sadly for him, all three shows bombed and his best chance of TV work these days is the ID Parade round on Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
Who are you favourite reality TV stars of yesteryear? Is Jeremy Spake due a comeback? Post your opinions below!
