Girls Aloud Formation

In 2002, a new UK talent search show called '' Popstars: The Rivals'' was released, with the mean of making a five-piece boy band and a five-piece girl band. Following the success of Hear'Say (winners of the original ''Popstars'' show), several thousand applicants attended auditions around the UK, hoping for a place in one of the groups. Ten men and ten women were selected from the auditions to go forward as finalists. However, before the first round of the finals two of the original female finalists were replaced: Hazel Kaneswaren was found to be too old to participate, whilst Nicola Ward turned down to sign the contract. Two new finalists (Kimberly Walsh and Nicola Roberts) were chosen, and the show continued.During October and November, the finalists took to the stage every Saturday night, singing for their place in one of the two bands. One challenger was eliminating each week until the final line-ups emerged. The resulting female arrangement became Girls Aloud, managed by Louis Walsh. The winning boy band was called One True Voice and was managed by Pete Waterman. In Christmas 2002 the two bands competed for the symbolic number one position in the Christmas Week UK's singles chart. Girls Aloud won with their single ''Sound of the Underground'' which then stayed at number one for four weeks. Disney Channel viewers later voted this as best single of 2002-2003 at the Disney Channel Kids Awards. Originally tipped to be more successful than the girls, One True Voice released just two singles, achieved little success and quickly disbanded.