The original cast of Fame Academy have reunited 20 years after the launch of the BBC talent show, as stars like Lemar and first ever winner David Sneddon enjoyed a night out together.
Fame Academy launched to a great fanfare in the autumn of 2002, just as ITV debuted Popstars: The Rivals, the series famous for giving us Girls Aloud, as the likes of Cheryl, Nadine Coyle and the late Sarah Harding all won a place in the band. While it didn't set viewing figures alight as much as BBC bosses would have liked, Fame Academy did have a loyal fanbase who tuned in every Friday night to see the pupils sing for their place in the competition.
Hosted by Patrick Kielty, Fame Academy saw all its contestants move into a mansion where they lived together, as well as getting lessons from vocal coaches Carrie and David Grant and dance teacher Kevin Adams, all under the watchful eye of outspoken and notoriously hard to please principal Richard Park, who famously clashed with presenter Patrick on numerous occasions.
