POP Idol was the most addictive television series. And to be fair, the judges and the public 'discovered' five gifted performers.

But to date such disappointing songs have been selected as singles for Gareth Gates and his chum Will Young. Surely they deserved fresh material, not rehashed classic pop songs.

Blue are in a similar vulnerable position to Master Gates. Neither act could sustain a career without good songs to call their own. Fortunately for Blue, One Love is as catchy as Russian Flu and Gary Barlow's Supersexual is pure dynamite.

However, their workmanlike take on Elton John's most tender and saddest song, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, only demonstrates their vocal weakness. Whereas Blue struggle with ballads, young Gareth excels in the genre.

What My Heart Wants To Say, With You All The Time and Too Serious Too Soon are classy pop songs, destined to become anthems for a generation. On this album Gates proves himself as the best British male vocalist since George Michael. Undoubtedly, for as long as Simon Cowell's favourite protg is given songs of this standard, Gates is going to remain a Pop Idol.

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, November 07, 2002