Susanne Manning
Encyclopedia
Susanne Courtney (born 1982) was a contestant on the second series of Pop Idol
in the UK
in 2003. She was known for her husky voice and caused the most headlines out of all the contestants at the time. She now appears on the Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Berkshire
. She also appears to have gone by the nickname of "Soose" from time to time.
At her Pop Idol audition she sang "Killing Me Softly". Neil Fox
and Nicki Chapman
reckoned she had potential and both voted 'yes' to put her through. Pete Waterman
, however, said that he saw her music career as a crazy dream and voted 'no'. Simon Cowell
then told her that he disagreed with Pete and she was put through to the theatre stages.
The judges failed to see anything special in her at the theatre stage but put her through the first round. She herself never expected to get through but the judges gave her a chance in the top 50.
In her group heat, she sang "Take a Little Piece of my Heart" by Erma Franklin
. She received a mixed response. However, she got the third highest votes and missed out on a place in the top 10 by only 0.7%. She was pipped by Brian Ormond and Kirsty Crawford
.
However, during the wildcard show, she was the judges' first choice and the public gave her the highest amount of votes and she made the top 12. Pete Waterman
, who was indifferent to her earlier performances, was reduced to tears after her rendition of Rod Stewart's "I Don't Wanna Talk About It
".
At the start of the live shows, she became the favourite. She sang "Ironic" and Pete Waterman called it "bloody marvellous". In the first week she got the highest votes; during the second week Simon Cowell branded her as "awkward". She still managed the 4th highest votes. In the top 6 show, where she sang "Ticket to Ride" during the Beatles week, she ended up in the bottom 2 with Roxanne Cooper but managed to survive till the top 5.
At that point, stories emerged of her branding fellow contestant and overall winner Michelle McManus
a "fat cow" and Manning allegedly took umbrage when asked to pose for a photograph with McManus next to her when attending a film premiere. Susanne denied the claims vigorously, and many suspected that it was a story leaked by Pop Idol PR to boost ratings and enhance the chances for Michelle to win the contest. However, she lost a massive chunk of her fan support and was voted off.
as a broadcast assistant. She now produces many shows including the afternoon show. She is also used as a fill in presenter during the main presenters time off. In 2005 she married Andrew Courtney, former drummer of Pure Reason Revolution
.
Additionally, Susanne participated in a Christian worship music album named "Love Divine", released in May 2007 by Vineyard UK, a recording group associated with the Association of Vineyard Churches
. On the album, Susanne functions as the leading singer on two tracks on the album, "Unfailing Love" and "All Hail Jesus".
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2003. She was known for her husky voice and caused the most headlines out of all the contestants at the time. She now appears on the Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Berkshire, as well as parts of North Hampshire, including Basingstoke. Radio Berkshire broadcasts on 94.6 , 95.4 , 104.1 and 104.4 FM from its studios at Caversham Park near Reading. The 104.1 FM signal is the strongest...
. She also appears to have gone by the nickname of "Soose" from time to time.
At her Pop Idol audition she sang "Killing Me Softly". Neil Fox
Neil Fox
Neil Andrew Howe Fox is an English DJ and TV presenter, known for many years as Dr. Fox before he became "Foxy" in the 2000s. He is now known simply as "Neil Fox". He is not to be mistaken for Conservative MP Liam Fox who is also known as Dr. Fox...
and Nicki Chapman
Nicki Chapman
Nicki Chapman is an English television presenter who also works in the British pop music industry. She was also a judge on the ITV reality shows Popstars, with Nigel Lythgoe and Paul Adam, and Pop Idol, along with Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and Neil Fox...
reckoned she had potential and both voted 'yes' to put her through. Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
, however, said that he saw her music career as a crazy dream and voted 'no'. Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
then told her that he disagreed with Pete and she was put through to the theatre stages.
The judges failed to see anything special in her at the theatre stage but put her through the first round. She herself never expected to get through but the judges gave her a chance in the top 50.
In her group heat, she sang "Take a Little Piece of my Heart" by Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin was an American gospel and R&B singer. She was the oldest daughter of Barbara and the Reverend C. L. Franklin and the elder sister of Aretha Franklin...
. She received a mixed response. However, she got the third highest votes and missed out on a place in the top 10 by only 0.7%. She was pipped by Brian Ormond and Kirsty Crawford
Kirsty Crawford
Kirsty Crawford, born 25 November 1983, is a vocalist originally from Glasgow, United Kingdom. Kirsty deferred a place at Medical School after finding success on ITV's Pop Idol in 2003, after which she signed a contract for a solo project, writing and recording material with Mark Goldenberg ,...
.
However, during the wildcard show, she was the judges' first choice and the public gave her the highest amount of votes and she made the top 12. Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
, who was indifferent to her earlier performances, was reduced to tears after her rendition of Rod Stewart's "I Don't Wanna Talk About It
I Don't Want to Talk About It
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" is the name of a song written by Danny Whitten. Whitten's band, Crazy Horse released it as a track on their 1971 eponymous album....
".
At the start of the live shows, she became the favourite. She sang "Ironic" and Pete Waterman called it "bloody marvellous". In the first week she got the highest votes; during the second week Simon Cowell branded her as "awkward". She still managed the 4th highest votes. In the top 6 show, where she sang "Ticket to Ride" during the Beatles week, she ended up in the bottom 2 with Roxanne Cooper but managed to survive till the top 5.
At that point, stories emerged of her branding fellow contestant and overall winner Michelle McManus
Michelle McManus
Michelle McManus is a Scottish singer-songwriter, actress, radio DJ and television presenter, who rose to fame after winning the second series of the UK talent show Pop Idol....
a "fat cow" and Manning allegedly took umbrage when asked to pose for a photograph with McManus next to her when attending a film premiere. Susanne denied the claims vigorously, and many suspected that it was a story leaked by Pop Idol PR to boost ratings and enhance the chances for Michelle to win the contest. However, she lost a massive chunk of her fan support and was voted off.
Pop Idol performances
| Week | Theme | Song Choice | Original Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 50 | Free Choice | "Take a Little Piece of my Heart" | Erma Franklin Erma Franklin Erma Franklin was an American gospel and R&B singer. She was the oldest daughter of Barbara and the Reverend C. L. Franklin and the elder sister of Aretha Franklin... |
3rd in voting |
| Wildcard show | Free Choice | "I Don't Wanna Talk About It" | Rod Stewart Rod Stewart Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry.... |
1st in voting |
| Top 12 | Your Pop Idol | "Ironic" | Alanis Morissette Alanis Morissette Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination... |
Safe |
| Top 10 | Birthyear Songs | "Only You Only You (Yazoo song) -Track listing:7": Mute/7 MUTE 20 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Situation" - 3:447": Sire/9 2-98447 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Winter Kills" - 4:0112": Mute/12 MUTE 20 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Situation" - 5:20CD: Mute/CD MUTE 20... " |
Yazoo Yazoo (band) Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s... |
Safe |
| Top 8 | Elton John songs | I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues | Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
Safe |
| Top 7 | Disco | "Young Hearts Run Free" | Candi Staton Candi Staton Candi Staton is an American soul and gospel singer, best known for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" and her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free". In 2007, Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.-Early years:... |
Safe |
| Top 6 | The Beatles | "Ticket to Ride" | The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr... |
Bottom 3 |
| Top 5 | Big Band | "Cry Me a River" | Julie London Julie London Julie London was an American singer and actress. She was best known for her smoky, sensual voice. London was at her singing career's peak in the 1950s. Her acting career lasted more than 35 years... |
Eliminated |
Post-Idol Career
After being voted off Pop Idol she joined BBC Radio BerkshireBBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Berkshire, as well as parts of North Hampshire, including Basingstoke. Radio Berkshire broadcasts on 94.6 , 95.4 , 104.1 and 104.4 FM from its studios at Caversham Park near Reading. The 104.1 FM signal is the strongest...
as a broadcast assistant. She now produces many shows including the afternoon show. She is also used as a fill in presenter during the main presenters time off. In 2005 she married Andrew Courtney, former drummer of Pure Reason Revolution
Pure Reason Revolution
Pure Reason Revolution are a British rock group formed at the University of Westminster in 2003 and who are playing their final dates together in November 2011. Their music incorporates elements of progressive rock and electro. Their music has been variously described as 'Astral Folk' and 'New...
.
Additionally, Susanne participated in a Christian worship music album named "Love Divine", released in May 2007 by Vineyard UK, a recording group associated with the Association of Vineyard Churches
Association of Vineyard Churches
The Association of Vineyard Churches, also known as the Vineyard Movement, is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian denomination with over 1,500 affiliated churches worldwide....
. On the album, Susanne functions as the leading singer on two tracks on the album, "Unfailing Love" and "All Hail Jesus".