• Norway's Kurt Nilsen wins 'World Idol' as contest favorite Kelly Clarkson places second

  January 2, 2004
  In a surprise upset, Norwegian Pop Idol Kurt Nilsen, a former plumber, defeated competition favorites Kelly Clarkson and Will Young and won World Idol's clash of the world's Idols.

• 'World Idol' winner announced

  January 1, 2004
  WARNING: The following story contains spoilers as to the winner and finish orders of the World Idol results show which will air on FOX and CTV in the U.S. and Canada this evening. If you do not wish to know this information, please stop reading right now.

• 'World Idol' draws OK ratings in US but mixed ratings throughout the world

  December 30, 2003
  Was World Idol a ratings smash? Or was it a flop? The answer depends upon the country from which you were watching.

• 'World Idol' to feature performances, abundance of sniping from judges

  December 24, 2003
  Although we have no idea what the final cut of World Idol, to be broadcast by Fox and CTV on Christmas Day, contains, we have now received a number of reports about the taping sessions on December 17. If you can picture a judging panel made up of 11 Simon Cowells, you've got the right image.

• "Plus-size" contestant wins U.K. 'Pop Idol', as judge Pete Waterman walks out

  December 22, 2003
  If, as rumored, Pete Waterman becomes a judge for Fox's American Idol 3, he's got some growing up to do first.

• US and Canadian judges tangle over performances at 'World Idol' taping

  December 19, 2003
  Who stars in World Idol -- the national winners or the national judges?

• Elton John to appear on 'World Idol' results show

  December 18, 2003
  On December 17, the upcoming worldwide holiday special World Idol was taped in London ... but bigger news broke off-stage. Chartbusting superstar Elton John agreed to appear on the World Idol results show, which will be aired on January 1 in the United States (on Fox, from 9-10 PM) and Canada (on CTV, from 8-9 PM) -- the same day that it takes place in London.

• Simon Cowell to serve as "American judge" for the upcoming 'World Idol' competition

  December 5, 2003
  FOX has announced that Simon Cowell will serve as America's representative on the upcoming World Idol judging panel. According to reports, Cowell was given the choice to either represent either FOX's American Idol program or the U.K.'s original Pop Idol program (where he still also serves as a judge) and opted to represent the American edition on the international judging panel.

• 'World Idol' competition planned for holiday season, with eleven 'Idols' and world-wide voting

  November 13, 2003
  Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller has finally achieved his dream: a one-night face-off among winners of Pop Idol versions from around the world, to be called World Idol.

• 'American Idol' phenomenon continues to expand globally

  September 19, 2003
  Daily Variety (registration required) reports that the U.K. Pop Idol concept has been sold to two more countries: Croatia, to be broadcast on TV Nova, and Serbia and Montenegro (formerly known as Yugoslavia), to be broadcast on BK Telekom. With these latest additions, Idol is now running in 20 versions, including Fox's American Idol in the U.S. and Canada, and CTV's Canadian Idol in Canada.

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