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FAME GAME

It’s 15 years since David Sneddon won the BBC’s Fame Academy… here’s what he is up to now

FIFTEEN years ago the BBC launched their own TV talent show to find the next biggest star.

And walking away as the winner of Fame Academy and with a £1million recording contract was Scottish singer David Sneddon.

 David Sneddon was the first ever winner of Fame Academy in 2003
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David Sneddon was the first ever winner of Fame Academy in 2003Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

David hadn't originally been picked to move into the Fame Academy house with the other contestants but was drafted in at the last minute when one dropped due out to illness.

He won over the judges and viewers quickly and impressed them with his renditions of Elton John's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me and I Don't Want To Talk About It by Danny Whitten.

David was crowned the winner in 2002 after wowing viewers with his own original song called Stop Living The Lie, beating off competition from fellow contestant Lemar.

Soon after, he scored his first number one single with the same song and released his debut album Seven Years - Ten Weeks.

 David won over the judges and viewers, despite only being drafted in to replace an ill contestant
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David won over the judges and viewers, despite only being drafted in to replace an ill contestantCredit: BBC
 David beat off competition to win the crown from runner-up Sinead and R&B singer Lemar
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David beat off competition to win the crown from runner-up Sinead and R&B singer LemarCredit: Dan Charity

But he could never replicate his initial chart success, and eventually faded from the limelight.

However, 15 years on from his Fame Academy success, he is still involved in the music industry.

And David has swapped being in front of the microphone to songwriting, and has worked with some of the biggest names in showbiz.

The now 39-year-old, who married in 2013, teamed up with James Bauer-Mein to form the songwriting partnership called Nexus.

And among the stars the pair have wrote songs for include Olly Murs, Matt Cardle, Will Young and Pixie Lott - with their most successful song to date being Lana Del Rey's National Anthem.

But he's not the only former Fame Academy contestant we have told you about.

Earlier this year we told you what David's rival and R&B singer Lemar is up to now.

While we also filled you in on what Jason Orange has been doing since he quit Take That.

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