Fans were left astonished on Thursday after Fame Academy judge Carrie Grant debuted a bold new look, sporting a vibrant red mullet. Carrie, who served as a judge on the British talent competition that aimed to discover the next great singing sensation, has reinvented her appearance more than two decades after the show concluded.
The programme promised a life-changing £1 million record deal, but it was short-lived, ending after just two seasons due to low ratings. Now, over 20 years since the show finished, its contestants have largely faded from the spotlight—some swapping singing for songwriting, collaborating with the likes of Louis Tomlinson, or trying their luck on The X Factor before marrying a famous cricketer. One contestant even dated Fearne Cotton, later releasing a breakup song about the relationship.
Where Are the Stars of Fame Academy Now?
David Sneddon
David Sneddon won the first series of Fame Academy after starting his career performing on TV and in stage musicals in Glasgow. Following his win, the Scottish singer, now 47, released his debut single Stop Living The Lie in 2003, which became a UK number one hit and sold over 250,000 copies. After several more singles, he transitioned to songwriting, signing with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Struggling with fame, in 2022 he revealed that the pressures led him to drink every day for six months after his victory, resulting in several scrapes. Now married with two children, he told the Sean McDonald Blethered podcast: 'I made a really conscious decision to disappear. I wanted my anonymity back, and I have pretty much become a recluse.' Recently, he co-wrote three songs with Louis Tomlinson on his album How Did I Get Here? and has worked with Lana Del Rey, Lewis Capaldi, and Olly Murs.
Lemar
The R&B singer shot to prominence on Fame Academy in 2002, finishing third. Now 48, he has built a lasting career, releasing seven albums and carving out a distinct place in British R&B. His hits include 50/50 and If There's Any Justice. Lemar has won multiple BRIT and MOBO awards, performed in London's West End, and acted in the Netflix series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Fame Academy was his last shot at success before he considered a career in computer programming. He had spent eight years trying to break into the industry and put his pharmacy studies on hold. He said: 'Fame Academy was the absolute last roll of the dice. I was going back to uni to do computer programming.' After briefly stepping away from music in 2015, he returned with his album Page In My Heart in 2023. He later developed tinnitus and has appeared on Dancing on Ice and The Masked Singer US. In May 2026, he performed on Marella Cruises.
Peter Brame
Peter came tenth on Fame Academy but stayed in the public eye after dating Fearne Cotton. The pair later split when Fearne grew tired of his party lifestyle. Peter released his album My Secret Suicide and the song Alcoholic's Love Song about their breakup. Since then, he has disappeared from public life and has not posted on social media since 2019.
Sinéad Quinn
Runner-up on series one, Sinéad quickly secured a record deal, with her debut single I Can't Break Down reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart. Her album Ready To Run reached number 48. She has performed regularly, including as part of Sinéad and The Dawnbreakers, and now plays corporate and private gigs. She is also the session leader at Electric Umbrella Charity, creating live music experiences for people with learning disabilities. In 2008, she married Paul Stewart, and they have three children.
Gary Phelan
Gary appeared on series two of Fame Academy in 2003, which was won by Alex Parks. Tragically, he passed away in August 2024 at age 42. His manager Simon Hanning confirmed the news, stating Gary was found in his apartment in Dubai, where he had been living. A fundraiser was launched to return his body to the UK. Gary continued with music after the show, touring and recording. He recently moved to Dubai, performing at venues like McCafferty's Irish Pub.
Carolynne Good
Carolynne finished third on Fame Academy in 2003 and later reached the final stages of The X Factor twice. In 2011, she made it to judges' houses but was sent home; the following year, she progressed to live shows but was eliminated in a controversial deadlock. In 2016, she married Yorkshire County Cricket Club player David Willey in Leeds. The couple have two children, Jacob and Maeve. Her Instagram bio reads: 'In a past life I wrote & sang country songs.'
James Fox
Hailing from Cardiff, James came fifth in series two and duetted on two tracks from winner Alistair Griffin's debut album. In 2004, he represented the UK at Eurovision with Hold Onto Our Love, which reached number 13 on the UK charts and finished 16th out of 24 finalists. He later claimed voting was biased. He has supported artists like Lulu, Natasha Bedingfield, Will Young, and Tina Turner. In 2007, he released Bluebirds Flying High, the official Cardiff City FC single for the 2008 FA Cup Final. James has also performed in musical theatre, including Jesus Christ Superstar and the West End production Let It Be. Last year, he released his third album Out In The World and recently played at The Bedford in Balham, London.
Alex Parks
Alex was just 18 when she won the second series of Fame Academy, defeating Alistair Griffin. Daniel Bedingfield duetted with both finalists and urged viewers to 'vote for Alex,' leading to claims of favoritism. Her debut album Introduction went double platinum in the UK. She released her second album Honestly in 2005 but was dropped by her record label in February 2006 and has not released anything since.
Alistair Griffin
Alistair came second to Alex and achieved two top 20 hit singles and a top 20 album. Reflecting on the show, he told York Vision he would not recommend going on a talent show. 'The next show is only twelve months away. You have to make the most of it.' His third single Just Drive was used in BBC's Formula One montage at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He wrote The Road, the official song of the 2014 Tour de France, recorded with Kimberley Walsh. He has also written songs for Cascada and the Games Maker Choir at the 2012 London Olympics. In February 2024, Alistair teased a return to music on Instagram, saying: 'You might remember me from Fame Academy or for my song Just Drive. This time I'm telling it my way.' He is releasing new music and playing acoustic shows at The Star Inn The City in York.
