Gareth Gates hits back at ‘CONTROLLING’ Faye Brookes rumours

Seb can't hide excitement as he tells Eileen that Alina is coming back to see him. When Eileen asks Alina if she knows what's happened to Jan, it's clear she's still missing him.

Eileen has some of her own news to share with Seb - that Jan had been working undercover for the police to out the gang. Despite her feelings for Jan, Paul warns her that trafficking gangs are dangerous.

In a bid to convince Alina to stay, Seb tells her what he's learned about Jan but Alina says she needs to leave. They say their tearful goodbyes and Seb and Eileen head back to number 11.

Little do they know they're being watched from a car across the street. As they leave the house that evening, Seb clocks the car and wonders if they've put themselves in danger.

Jan approaches Eileen at the garage and tells her about his plans to lie low in Birmingham, imploring her to go with him, but a tearful Eileen declines his offer.

Feeling smothered under the weight of his own lies, Robert presents Vicky with the cheap replica engagement ring he had made for her, after she discovered Michelle's in the van.

But Jed is furious when he walks in on the 'proposal'. When Robert leaves Vicky's flat he's horrified to find that Jed has broken into his van and his holding the other ring. Why does Robert need two?

Later on at the Bistro, Robert feels he has no choice but to tells Michelle that the ring was stolen from his van, but as Craig comes to take a statement, Michelle wonders why the van (and Robert) were in Macclesfield.

Later that afternoon, Jed arrives at the Bistro with the stolen ring and makes it clear he's willing to tell Michelle everything unless Robert plays his game.

Jed blackmails Robert and demands £5k, but Robert insists he only has £2k. Jed accepts the cash and gives Robert back his ring – on the condition that Robert convinces Tyler to move to Belfast.

Later on when Michelle comes back to Bistro, Robert says that the ring turned up – but when Michelle demands to know where the £2k from the safe has gone, Robert has to backtrack and say he spent the money replacing the ring. Phew!

Robert things he's got away with his lies (for now). But soon Jed overhears him going back on his end of the bargain, telling Tyler that he hopes he'll stay around to help look after the new baby.

When Jed confronts him, Robert turns the tables once more, saying that he's got CCTV tapes of him blackmailing him and if he doesn't back off, he'll get the police involved.

Elsewhere in Weatherfield, Tyrone prepares for Fizz and Hope's homecoming and is struck with panic when he realises he's forgotten to enrol Hope at Bessie Street in time for the new term.

With Brian's help, Tyrone organises a meeting with the head of Bessie Street to try and beg for a place for Hope for the upcoming school term.

Everyone is surprised when Evelyn turns up at the meeting for "moral support" – but when the head politely explains that it's too late to enrol, Evelyn switches gear.

Unrolling a home-made banner that says "Let Hope In", Evelyn barricades everyone in the Head Teacher's office and declares she's staging a protest until they agree.

Soon Fizz turns up and is horrified to find the scene Evelyn has caused, and Tyrone's organisational failings, reflecting that Hope would have been better off finding a school in Brum.

With Aadi returning from India, Asha is less than impressed about the thought of sharing a room with him and so Dev has a decision to make.

Dev breaks the news to Mary that Asha and Aadi want their own rooms back and so Mary will have to leave. Mary is understanding, but dissapointed.

With Geoff worming his way back into Yasmeen's heart, Tim is bemused to find Yasmeen at number 4, having been unaware of Geoff's "health conditions".

Elsewhere, Shona goes to visit David in prison and tells him about Max acting up. David tells Shona that it would have been Kylie's birthday last week, which may be why he's upset.

Will obviously beat Gareth Gates in the final and went on to release a string of massive singles including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now. He released a greatest hits album in 2009 and just missed out on a spot on The Voice UK panel to The Script's Danny O'Donoghue. In 2016 he joined Strictly Come Dancing; only to leave the show three weeks later due to 'personal reasons.' Will still makes music and will be releasing his book To Be A Gay Man in September 2020.

Gareth released three studio albums after finishing in second place, including the absolute tune that was Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake). In 2014 he competed in Dancing on Ice: All Stars and joined supergroup 5th Story on The Big Reunion. He was in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes from 2012 to 2019 before being linked to DJ Chloe McLennan in July 2020.

Zoe came fourth on the show and released a top twenty single (Treat Me Like a Lady, which reached number 12) before being dropped by Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller's label. In 2014 she entered Big Brother (not even the celebrity version) and came ninth.

The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.

Darius Campbell (who back then went by Darius Danesh) had previously auditioned for Popstars with his cover of Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time; and returned to Pop Idol the next year. He went on to release five top ten singles and won ITV show Popstar to Operastar in 2010. Darius married actress Natasha Henstridge in 2011 but filed for divorce just two years later.

After finishing fifth, Hayley bagged a small role on Coronation Street and starred as Sandy in Grease alongside Robbie Williams' best mate Jonathan Wilkes. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012 (though didn't make it past boot camp) and in 2016 was one of the candidates set to represent Romania at Eurovision before pulling out due to a severe knee injury.

Rosie signed a five-album deal after coming sixth; releasing top twenty singles Blink and A Little Bit. After her record label went bust she was released from her contract, but Rosie did enter Australian Idol in 2007. Didn't make it through to the final 12, though.

Laura now has a music degree after graduating from the University of Ulster in 2006. She also teaches hip-hop dancing in schools.

Aaron now plays weddings and functions as part of the Aaron Bayley Band (inspired.) He also joined fellow popstar-types Andy Scott-Lee, Stacey McClean, Rikki Loney and Kavana in supergroup G*Mania, who went on tour performing Glee songs.

Rik was replaced by Darius when he was forced to leave the live shows due to severe laryngitis. He released a top 10 single - a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - and appeared on Celebrity Fit Club in 2002. Back in March 2014, he was an exam invigilator.

The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.

She might've only finished ninth, but Jessica went on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with Come Back. She even managed to come third, which is pretty bloody amazing.