Liberty X

Few pop acts can trace their origins to the losing side of a television talent show, yet that is where Liberty X began. The British-Irish group were the five runners-up from ITV's 2001 series Popstars, who missed out on Hear'Say and regrouped as Liberty. A High Court challenge from an earlier funk band of the same name forced a rethink, and the final title grew from a reader suggestion in The Sun. Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young, Tony Lundon and Kevin Simm made up the line-up.

Their debut single, 'Thinking It Over', reached number five in 2001, but 'Just a Little' made them. It went to number one, became the ninth best-selling single of 2002 and helped the album of the same name reach number three, with sales above one million worldwide. Being Somebody, from November 2003, debuted at number twelve but sold far fewer. After a hiatus and solo projects, they released X in 2005, disbanded in 2007 and toured in 2013, before a one-off reunion in May 2016.