Top Five TV Talent Show Contestants Who Weirdly Made It Big Anyway

Long before The X Factor and The Voice, talent shows were often seen as one-hit wonders factories. For every Will Young or Girls Aloud, there were dozens of hopefuls who vanished without trace. But every so often, someone would still wow through an audition, but not win, and then — against all odds — become a household name anyway.

Here are five talent show contestants who didn’t win, but still went on to huge careers.

5. Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent (2009)

The show: A shy, middle-aged Scottish woman walked onstage to sniggers — then stunned the nation with her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream.

The twist: She didn’t even win (she lost to dance group Diversity), but her audition clip went viral worldwide before “going viral” was even a thing.

What happened next: Boyle went on to sell millions of albums, tour internationally, and become one of the biggest surprise stars in British pop history.

4. One Direction – The X Factor (2010)

The show: Five solo contestants — Harry, Zayn, Niall, Louis, and Liam — were about to be sent home before Simon Cowell had a brainwave and lumped them together as a boyband.

The twist: They didn’t win (they came third), but their cheeky charm and “just lads having fun” energy sparked Beatlemania 2.0.

What happened next: Stadium tours, chart domination, and a launchpad for multiple solo careers. Not bad for a group cobbled together backstage.

3. Jennifer Hudson – American Idol (2004)

The show: A powerhouse vocalist eliminated shockingly early, finishing seventh.

The twist: Judges wrote her off, but her raw talent spoke for itself.

What happened next: An Academy Award for Dreamgirls, a Grammy-winning music career, Broadway, and eventually her own talk show. Not bad for someone who “lost” a TV contest.

2. JLS – The X Factor (2008)

The show: A four-piece boyband with smooth vocals and slick dance moves, mentored by Louis Walsh.

The twist: They didn’t win (Alexandra Burke took the crown that year), but their chemistry made them instant teen-mag favourites.

What happened next: Multiple Brit Awards, a Greatest Hits tour, and more brightly coloured hoodies than anyone should own.

1. ABBA – Eurovision Song Contest (1974)

The show: Technically a competition, technically a talent showcase — and definitely a gamble. Four Swedes in sparkly outfits sang Waterloo in Brighton.

The twist: They won Eurovision (so not exactly a “loser”), but at the time, winning the contest wasn’t seen as a guaranteed route to superstardom.

What happened next: Only one of the biggest bands in history. Proof that sometimes talent shows do change music forever.