The Idol generation

by PAUL HARRIS, Daily Mail

Only one can win. But the last three contestants in the Pop Idol competition believe that even if they lose they are already on the path to stardom.

Darius Danesh, Will Young and Gareth Gates gave a press conference as the ITV programme nears the end of its search for a new pop star.

The three have beaten 10,000 wannabes nationwide - and are fighting it out for a solo recording contract.

More than nine million viewers have tuned in each Saturday to watch them perform and vote for their favourite. The judges, Simon Cowell from RCA, producer Pete Waterman, talent scout Nicki Chapman and DJ Neil Fox also give their verdicts.

Each week, the performer with the least votes from the public is eliminated.

But when the spotlight switches to the overall winner, to be announced on February 9, those left behind are confident the music business will still beckon.

Will, a 23-year-old Exeter University politics graduate from Berkshire, said: 'It just doesn't worry me. We've just got to hope that we've all got a long career ahead of us and hopefully people will just enjoy our singing.'

Darius, 21, from Glasgow, appeared in the previous ITV series Popstars which produced the band Hear'Say. He said failure a second time would not put him off.

'The idea of being nobody tomorrow doesn't affect us and it doesn't mean you are a nobody if you are suddenly not receiving exposure in the tabloid newspapers,' he said.

Gareth, a 17-year- old A-level student from Bradford, and favourite to win, could pose problems for music producers should he take the title.

He suffers from a severe stammer and was unable to speak for long periods of the press conference, drawing constant support from the other three.

'This is hard for me,' he finally managed to say.

Click below for our guests to the contestants.

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