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Most Successful Fame Creator Of The Century, Simon Fuller, Speaks Exclusively To Time About His Latest Plans: The creative force behind Pop Idol reveals his newest reality-TV concept

London (ots)

In this week's issue (November 4), TIME reveals the
plans and future projects of Simon Fuller, king of music reality TV
and creator of the hugely successful TV show, Pop Idol. In a rare and
exclusive interview with TIME, the British entrepreneur speaks about
the evolution of music reality TV and his future plans.
TIME details Fuller's brand new reality TV concept, a talent
contest for faded stars who will compete for a comeback.
Collaborating with U.S. network Fox, Fuller says, "It's [the show]
where we go to people who have had a taste of fame, but sadly their
candle has been snuffed." The show, with a working title of Second
Chance Idol, is Fuller's solution to the saturation in the reality TV
market. Giving stars a second chance to flourish, Fuller tells TIME
that, "The clever thing is to take it [reality TV] and parody it".
Never done before, the show could reach U.K.'s screens as early as
next February and audiences will get to choose between famed old
names like Tiffany, Vanilli (from Milli Vanilli) and Debbie Gibson.
TIME reflects on Fuller's phenomenal success with Pop Idol, the
T.V. show that received 32 million viewer telephone calls when the
audience voted for its favourite performer. Scheduled for a second
series in the U.K., it also did equally well in the U.S. as American
Idol, commanding $60 million through sponsorship and ad revenue.
Coca-Cola and Ford, the headline sponsors have already signed on for
the next series. The show will also debut in Germany on November 9 as
Germany Seeks A Superstar, and will present some of the 10'000
hopefuls who have flocked from four cities.
TIME shows how Fuller gained credibility while working with Annie
Lennox for twelve years. He also managed the famous Spice Girls who
under his direction sold over 40 million albums worldwide and he
later launched the music band, S Club 7, which had it's own TV show
and sold more than 7 million CDs. In 1985 Fuller founded 19, a
privately-held group of companies named after his first hit act; a
synthesizer- heavy song about the average age of Vietnam veterans.
TIME reports Fuller's other upcoming projects in the U.S. that
include a movie, Ajs, which Fuller describes as a "cross between Fame
and Grease" and a reality TV show called Superstar Girl that will
"reinvent the beauty pageant".
As TIME explores the evolution of reality TV shows, it charts the
successes and failures of the industry and reflects on a genre that
is said to have become as essential to modern day culture as drama
and comedy. For the full article please go to www.timeeurope.com.
The international editions of TIME magazine are published
specifically for readers outside of the United States. There are four
regional publications covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa;
Asia; the South Pacific and Canada. Each edition offers readers
access to Time Inc.'s global resources with regional, relevant
stories. TIME is Europe's leading weekly newsmagazine, with a
circulation of 600'090 across EMEA and 315'000 in Asia. Founded in
1923, TIME's worldwide circulation is more than 5.6 million.
ots Original Text Service: TIME Europe
Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.ch
For further information please contact:
Emma Gilpin
Director of Public Affairs
TIME Europe
T:  +44 (0) 207 322 1193
F:  +44 (0) 207 322 1181
M: + 44 (0) 7802 955 243
Email:  emma.gilpin@timeinc.com
Heather Tomlinson
PR Manager
TIME Europe
T:  + 44 (0) 207 322 1034
F:  + 44 (0) 207 322 1181
M:   +44 (0) 7734 072 662
Email:  heather.tomlinson@timeinc.com