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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 24 May 2008 |
X Factor runner-up Andy Abraham isn't the only reality star making the leap to the big Eurovision stage in the final this year. They're everywhere.
From printer and some-time binman to pop star, Andy's got a lot to thank reality TV for. The X Factor was the springboard for his career when he was a finalist back in 2005.
And it turns out he's not the only one who's taken this route to the Eurovision final. Simon Cowell, Simon Fuller and their continental cousins have a lot to answer for - we've counted another six finalists who all have a Pop Idol-esque past. So, who are they?
Greek pop princess Kalomira launched her career on TV talent show Fame Story 2 in her native land, where she charmed her way to first place, while baby-faced Boaz won the Israeli Pop Idol - A Star is Born with over 50 per cent of the votes in the final.
Maria became a household name when she entered the Norwegian Pop Idol in 2004. Her big voice propelled her into sixth place. Simon Mathew entered Scenen Er Din, the Danish equivalent of the international television show Star Search, which he eventually won with the song I Don't Wanna Be. This paved the way for his first album which was released in 2005.
Heading west across Europe, Vania Fernandes is famous in Portugal for winning Operacion Triunfo - a Portuguese Pop Idol-like talent show with a classical bent - last year, while No Angels won Germany's first Popstars competition way back in 2001 and went straight to number one with their debut single and album.
No strangers to live television, public voting and huge audiences, Eurovision seems like the perfect next step for them all. At least Andy won't need to face a stony-faced Cowell and his cutting remarks at the end of his performance this time - just judgement from a cool 100 million or so who are expected to tune in on Saturday.
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