IRISH POPSTARS
After the massive success of the UK series of Popstars, which created short lived pop sensation Hear'Say, Ireland's RTE network decided to get the rights for their own version of the show. With the panel of judges elected (Eurovision Song Contest singer Linda Martin, TV producer Bill Hughes and pop manager Louis Walsh) the auditions for the next big Irish band began in September 2001.

Auditions were held in the cities of Galway, Cork, Belfast & Dublin where 5,000 hopefuls auditioned for a place in the band. As with all reality television, there were a fair share on talentless people in the bunch! In the end 32 finalists were chosen to head off to a final boot camp in Portumna, Western Ireland. After a week of intense singing, dancing and judging, only 12 remained. It was then a waiting game until one of the judges revealed the six band members.

The Rise and Fall of Nadine Coyle

Clips from Irish Popstars including the reveal of her true age.

Andy Orr, Emma O'Driscoll, Kyle Anderson, Liam McKenna, Sinead Shepard and Nadine Coyle moved into the Popstars mansion where they would be held until the TV show aired. These 6 performers had wowed judges at each stage of the auditions and where set to be the next big thing. However, after just 24 hours in the house - disaster struck.

During a TV interview, Nadine gave her date of birth as June 15, 1985, making her 16 and not 18 as she had originally told producers. Popstars rules stated that all contestants must be aged 18 or over if they were to participate.

Nadine initially said she had made a silly mistake a reassured them she was actually 18. However, when she realised her passport would prove otherwise, she burst into tears and admitted that she had lied. It came to a shock to all those involved as Nadine had become a favourite with them all. The other five members protested that Nadine should be allowed to stay in the band, but the producers would not back down and Ms. Coyle was forced to leave.

In some emotional scenes, Nadine and her ex-bandmates were seen crying as she was driven away. Even Louis Walsh wanted the singer to stay, but his attempts to save her were in vain. She was later replaced by by Galway girl Sarah Keating.

Whilst news of 'the big lie' spread, Nadine tried to return to her normal life. Despite yearning to be a singer, Nadine was reluctant to go for another audition and it was Louis Walsh who persuaded her to return to reality TV. She became one fifth of the UK's biggest girl group as a result.

SIX
As for Six... they went on to have the fatest selling single ever in Ireland with their #1 debut release, 'Whole Lot Of Lovin.'

Their second Irish single, "Let Me Be The One", was released following a successful slot supporting Westlife and became their second Top 10 hit in the country.

Sadly, after a failed attempt to break into the UK, Six disappeared and their official site closed.