Reality stars who sunk without a trace

Big on ego, largely void of talent, we look at some of the reality stars who burst onto our screens in a blaze of glory then promptly retreated back into obscurity

Big on ego, largely void of talent, we look at some of the reality stars who burst onto our screens in a blaze of glory then promptly retreated back into obscurity

Steve Brookstein

Everything seemed to be going to plan for the cheesy-grinned krooner when, having won the first series of The X Factor in 2004, his debut single and album went straight to number one.

However, little more than a year later he was dropped by his record label as it transpired the UK was not, after all, desperate for a middle-aged cabaret singer in a bad suit.

Steve was last seen starring in a cabaret act on the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry.

I'd fly if I were you...

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Alex Parks

Back in 2003, when making stars out of moderately gifted karaoke singers was a fledgling concept, the BBC decided to jump on the bandwagon with a show called Fame Academy.

Proving that the show wasn't merely a poor imitation of ITV's reality offering, the eventual winner was an indie/alternative (scruffy) so and so called Alex Parks.

The writing was on the wall for the Cornish warbler when her debut single failed to achieve the obligatory number one spot.

Alex now spends her time doing vague things such as 'spending time in the studio' and 'writing'.

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Tre Azam

The Apprentice has a habit of throwing up fantastic comedy characters and Tre, who appeared in the 2007 series, was undoubtedly one of the best.

The fact that he describes himself on his personal website as 'forthright, outspoken and a bit of a maverick' should tell you everything you need to know. (I'm guessing his main influences include David Brent).

Despite setting out to dominate the world, Tre has so far managed an appearance on The Weakest Link and, according to his website is 'available for speaking engagements'.

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Katie Hopkins

Another contestant on The Apprentice, Hopkins, who had previously auditioned to be on Big Brother, did everything (quite literally if you believe the papers) to stay in the public eye after deciding to duck out at the semi-final stage in 2007.

However, aside from being a late call-up to I'm a Celebrity a couple of years ago, she has failed to maintain any kind of longevity, with tabloid editors having found new subjects to sneer about.

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Danny Foster and Noel Sullivan

When ITV reality show Popstars put together their version of pop perfection in 2001, some cynical souls feared they wouldn't stand the test of time.

But if Hear'Say were not destined to conquer the world, it was thought Noel (the singing one) and Danny (the cheeky one) would at least hang around for a few years to come.

Fast forward almost a decade and while Myleene, Kym and the other one continue to carve out successful careers, poor old Noel and Danny have only the memories to ponder.

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Chantelle Houghton

Those scamps at Channel 4 sent Chantelle into the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2006 as the first 'non celebrity' to appear on the show. And, hey presto, she won it.

Not content with that, she snared fellow contestant 'Preston from the Ordinary Boys' and married him later that year.

Unfortunately and inexplicably, the union did not last and they divorced less than a year after the wedding.

Chantelle was last spotted opening a clothes shop in Great Yarmouth.

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Michelle McManus

Despite nasty old Pete Waterman questioning whether a 'big' girl could make it in the world of pop, Michelle socked it to him by winning Pop Idol in 2003.

Less than two years later, however, Pete's words appeared to carry some weight as the Scottish singer was dropped by her record label.

Apart from a wholly undignified appearance on You Are What You Eat, Michelle has basically been twiddling her thumbs of late.

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