Gareth Gates' loyal fans are "still not over" the fact he lost out on the Pop Idol title to Will Young - even 20 years on.
The popular, then spiky-haired, singer was just 17 when he was propelled to fame on the televised singer competition.
The Bradford-born singer took part in series one of the show, which was the first of its kind, and featured Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman, Neil Fox and Pete Waterman as judges.
He went on to have a number of hits with songs including Unchained Melody and Say It Ain't So.
To mark 20 years since the final, sharing a series of pictures - and a video of his audition - the now 37-year-old thanked fans for voting for him and said it was a "good job" music mogul Simon Cowell "liked" him.
He also questioned whether a "shy kid with a stammer from Bradford" would have made it in the music business without Pop Idol.
"20 years today, I became the UK’s biggest Loser!" he joked. "How has it been 20 years?
"It feels like yesterday I was stood on that stage with @willyoungofficial and @antanddec waiting for the results to come through.
"I owe everything to Pop Idol. Yes, I worked hard on music well before going on the show (learning to play instruments and sing from the age of eight) but would a shy kid with a stammer from Bradford have made it in the music business without that platform and exposure? Probably not.
"It’s a good job @simoncowell liked me! Thank you to all that voted and for giving me the beautifully blessed life I still live today. #popidol #20years."
Zoe Birkett, who also competed the same year, said: "Your still a legend Mr Gates! Blessed to have shared those memories with you all those years back."
And fans could not get enough of the nostalgic milestone.
"20 years of being a Gareth fan and a lifetime to go!" one said.
Another added: "Awww babe... bless you not at all, look at you still smashing it. This makes me feel so old tho not gonna lie."
A third said: "I was obbbbsesssssed lol that I ended up at Bradford Uni."
A fourth wrote: "Will forever be our fave."
While a fifth admitted they are still "not over the result".
"I'm still not over it!" they said.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
