Popstars: 25 years since Popstars, Australia’s early realty TV series launched

The term “reality TV’ didn’t exist 25 years ago when a ‘docusoap’ was announced, spawning Bardot, one of Australia’s biggest bands of the 2000s, and changing TV forever.

The Gold Coast’s love affair with reality television remains strong.

Millions of people continue to tune into the popular genre, with many locals still seeking their 15-minutes of fame on-screen.

Just this week several were in the debut of new series Aussie Shore.

It comes 25 years after the genre, then in its infancy, struck big with one young Gold Coaster.

The term “reality TV” didn’t exist when Australia was first introduced to the world of Popstars in late 1999.

Popstars was announced in September 1999 as a 13-part “docusoap” which was “about the creation of an all-female pop group beginning with the audition process and culminating with the release an album and live concert”.

Bardot was the product of the “docusoap” Popstars

Auditions were held across the country through October 1999 as anticipation grew for the concept, which was unlike anything seen on local screens before.

The three-judge panel included music executive Chris Moss, band manager Michal Napthali and radio host Jackie O.

The first episode went to air in February 2000 and was an immediate success.

With ratings north of 2 million people, Popstars captured the imagination of the viewing public and Monk was an early favourite, topping the audience polls.

She wowed the judges with her impression of Marilyn Monroe performing Happy Birthday for US president John F Kennedy.

Sophie Monk when she was a student at St Hilda’s

Monk had been a performer during her time as a student at St Hildas.

With the series’ fifth episode, airing in March 2000, it was revealed Monk was among the finalists to form the band along with Melbourne’s Katie Underwood, Perth’s Chantelle Barry, Adelaide’s Sally Polihronas and Sydney’s Belinda Chapple.

But storm clouds suddenly gathered when Barry was sacked from the group a week later. It was later revealed the then-20-year-old was asked to leave the group after being accused of stealing money from Monk.

Barry later said in an interview that she was paid $1000 to stay quiet about the scandal

She was replaced in the line up by Tiffani Wood.

Bardot was short-lived but burned brightly

The group named itself Bardot and recorded its debut single Poison in April 2000 which went straight to No. 1 on the Australian charts, staying there for three consecutive weeks.

The band’s debut album, titled simply Bardot, was a No. 1 hit in Australia and New Zealand.

It produced three singles.

Bardot relocated to the UK in 2001 in an attempt to break into the European market but failed to gain significant traction, with Poison only making it as high as No. 45 on the charts.

By mid-2001 the band was forced to released the single ASAP as a ‘comeback’ track just a year after forming.

Around the same time Underwood quit the band.

Bardot performing at Parramatta Westfield

By early 2002 Bardot‘s reign was over and the band split.

Popstars also struggled after the success of its first year.

It’s second series, airing in 2001, produced the short-lived band Scandal’us which produced a single album, ironically titled Startin’ Somethin’.

Scandal’us also split up in 2002.

Popstars produced a third and final series in 2002 which was won by Scott Cain.

But the viewers had long since deserted the show, moving on to Big Brother and other new shows.

Popstars is now nothing but a distant memory and largely forgotten by today’s audiences but it was the spearhead of a genre which remains loved and loathed.

Originally published as Popstars: 25 years since Popstars, Australia’s early realty TV series launched