High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Pop Idol is a British television music competition which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The aim of the show was to decide the best new young pop singer (or "pop idol") in the UK based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-2002 and a second in 2003. Pop Idol was cancelled in February 2004, and was replaced later that year with The X Factor.