Fame Academy stars now - from Coronation Street role to alcohol abuse and famous husband

Coronation Street’s Steve McDonald has a new love interest – and those who tuned into Fame Academy back in the day will undoubtedly recognise her face.

Singer-turned-actress Pippa Fulton recently rocked up to the Rovers as Aurora, Steve’s trouble-making date who quickly set her sights on Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) – much to wife Sally Metcalfe’s ( Sally Dynevor ) indignation.

Pippa appeared in the first season of Fame Academy back in 2002, alongside stars such as David Sneddon and Lemar. She was just 20 years old at the time of filming and longed to follow in the footsteps of her megastar icon Madonna.

Taking a different approach to its ITV rival Pop Idol, Fame Academy was all about offering an intensive musical education to contestants, who were referred to as ‘students’, with a focus on original songwriting and personal development.

Although Pippa’s Fame Academy journey came to an end in week four, she went on to enjoy a number of career accomplishments. After releasing a cover version of Aerosmith’s rock anthem I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing, Pippa ventured into the world of acting.

Pippa picked up two guest roles in Emmerdale, first as Dingle & Dingle Automotives customer Jess in 2014, then as a Take a Vow customer in 2017. She also appeared as Leanne in Hullraisers, a BAFTA-nominated Channel 4 sitcom co-written by Lucy Beaumont.

As Pippa stirs up trouble on the cobbles, the Mirror takes a look at what some of her former Fame Academy classmates are up to now…

David Sneddon

The champion of series one, David Sneddon earned an astonishing 3.5 million votes and went on to release number one single Stop Living The Lie, plus a top 10 album, Seven Years – Ten Weeks. From an outside perspective, it appeared the Paisley-born singer was living the dream, but the pressures of fame soon took their toll.

David Sneddon

Opening up candidly with Sean McDonald on a 2022 episode his Blethered podcast, David revealed why fame hadn’t been for him, revealing that he’d drank single every night for six months after his Fame Academy victory – resulting in him getting into ‘several scrapes’.

Now a 45-year-old married father of two, on reflection, David believes he should have sought counselling at the time. David shared: “I made a really, really conscious decision back then just to disappear. I wanted my anonymity back, I didn’t want to be famous and I have pretty much become a recluse.

“The year before last was the first time I ever got social media. I’ve got an Instagram account that I very rarely engage with so I suppose there are folk who go, ‘Whatever happened to David Sneddon?’

He continued: “I am never somebody who has suffered from anxiety or panic attacks because I do’’t think I take myself very seriously. But if we talked about mental health back then the way we do now I can see in that six months after Fame Academy I should have been speaking to somebody about how I was feeling. I just wasn’t comfortable in what I was doing.

“In that six months, I was drinking every night, going out all the time. I got myself into several scrapes that I shouldn’t have been in. My personality was changing and I was astute enough to know why and that was when I just sacked it all off.”

Nowadays, David focuses his talents on songwriting rather than performing, and has worked alongside likes of Lana Del Rey, Lewis Capaldi, and Olly Murs.

Sinéad Quinn

Series one runner-up Sinéad Quinn earned 2.5 million of the overall 6.5 million votes – and soon went on to prove her mettle beyond Fame Academy. The then 19-year-old quickly snapped up a record deal, and her debut single I Can’t Break Down reached number two in the UK Singles Chart following its February 2003 release.

Fermanagh singer Sinéad proceeded to take on the world of musical theatre shows, playing Beth in the 2007 touring version of Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds. Now 44, Sinéad has had plenty of joy in her personal life, and, in 2008, married Paul Stewart, drummer in rock/pop band The Feeling.

The couple went on to welcome three children, and also perform together in rockabilly band, Sinéad and The Dawnbreakers. Nowadays, Sinéad channels her passion for music into helping others and works as a session leader for an organisation that creates live music experiences for those with learning disabilities.

Lemar

Series one contestant Lemar became one of the greatest Fame Academy success stories, with his double-platinum debut 2003 album Dedicated producing three top ten UK singles – Dance (With U), 50/50 and Another Day. His second album Time To Grow, released 2004, brought further phenomenal success, with smash hit single If There’s Any Justice spending four months in the UK Singles Chart.

Lemar

Now a 46-year-old father-of-two, Tottenham-born Lemar continues to enjoy an impressive music career, and has even clocked up some acting triumphs, making a cameo as Lord Smythe-Smith in the fifth episode of 2023 TV-Series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

In a 2022 interview with Haringey Community Press, ahead of his comeback album, Page In My Heart, Lemar spoke about the anonymity he enjoyed when penning songs for other artists. Lemar shared: “Writing music for other people I find much easier, because I can take myself out of the equation. I take out all the personal ghosts that haunt you when you’re trying to reveal a certain part of you or talk about a certain thing that you’ve been through. Or even in relation to sound, I can write an electronic song or a dance song.

“The freedom of just being able to create without limits when you’re writing for other people, that’s a nice thing. When I write for myself, obviously there’s much more consideration because people have bought stuff and I feel I owe them a duty to at least not stray too far from that.”

Alex Parks

Alex Parks was just 18 years old when she was named as the second series winner, impressing viewers with her distinct, mature voice. After skyrocketing to fame on the show, gifted songwriter Alex clocked up two platinum-selling albums, plus a Top Three single, Maybe That’s What It Takes.

Alex Parks

It seemed as though Cornwall-born Alex had a long career in music ahead of her – but in 2005, she was dropped by her record label, and little is known about what she got up to next. She was however spotted at the Music Sales Film & TV Songwriters Week in 2014, with X Factor winner Joe McElderry, suggesting she maintained her love of music.

Alistair Griffin

Series two runner-up Alistair Griffin found himself at the centre of a favouritism scandal after Daniel Bedingfield – who duetted with both him and Alex Parks – urged viewers to ‘just vote for Alex’. Daniel later apologised to Alistair, but fans were unhappy with what they viewed as blatant impartiality.

Alistair Griffin

Reflecting on his time on the show during an interview with York Vision, Alistair revealed that he wouldn’t personally recommend the talent show route to other aspiring musicians. He shared: “I would probably say no, but it is hard. People say The X Factor is a quick fix, but they have their own pitfalls. Mass exposure, then it can die away. The next show is only twelve months away. You have to make the most of it, get out of it what you want. To a large extent, you’re at the mercy of the television schedule.”

Alistair went on to have two top twenty hit singles plus a top twenty album in the UK, and has also written songs for Cascada and the Games Maker Choir at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Carolynne Good

Leeds-born Carolynne Good finished in third place in the second series of Fame Academy, and went on to embark on a 2004 UK tour with Is This The Way To Amarillo crooner Tony Christie. She went on to try out for The X Factor on two occasions, making it through to the live shows in 2012.

Carolynne Good

Carolynne’s debut five-song album Coming Back To Me, released 2017, was nominated for two British Country Music Association Awards. Like Pippa, Carolynne has also explored the world of acting, making appearances in Emmerdale as well as panto.

Her first marriage to footballer David Poole ended in 2011, and since 2016 she’s been married to England cricketer David Willey. Opening up about her time on The X Factor in a 2018 interview with Hello!, Carolynne said: “I still look back at The X Factor warmly. I’ve still got friends from that time. And it’s good not to have any regrets. It drew attention to me for the better because I got to work with more songwriters in America.”

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