Official Charts Flashback 2004: Michelle McManus - All This Time

The unlikely popstar was at the top of the Official UK Singles Chart 15 years ago this week.

Believe it or not, there was a time when the TV talent show format was fresh and exciting. Back in 2003, when The X Factor was a mere glint in Simon Cowell's eye, the UK had been gripped by two series of Pop Idol. The show's judges - Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox - were caught off guard when the public voted for Will Young as the series one champion over Gareth Gates, but they were in for an even bigger shock when the winner of its second run was announced.

Michelle McManus, a 23-year-old travel agent from Glasgow, may not have been who Simon and co. had their eye on as the next global superstar (Pete Waterman thought the prospect of her becoming a popstar was "a joke" and stormed off set when she was announced the winner, rude), but the public had spoken. Whether Pete liked it or not, the public had fallen for Michelle's unfussy charm and powerhouse vocals.

For her winner's single, Michelle was given the rare gift of an original song, called All This Time. The track had some impressive talent behind it: Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Ali Tennant are credited, each of who at this point had a string of pop hits for Westlife, Atomic Kitten and Blue under their belt (and plenty more to come). The song had all the ingredients for a champion's debut - a dramatic intro ("This time yesterday, I thought I was gonna die"), lyrics about achieving your goals against the odds and a signature 00s pop key change.

All This Time debuted at Number 1 with 118,000 sales and spent three weeks at the top, the last of which was 15 years ago this week. It finished as the sixth best-seller that year, and its total combined sales stand at 305,000. It was to be Michelle's only major hit, with follow-up single The Meaning Of Love stalling at 16. The album of the same name reached Number 3, and - such is the cruel world of pop - she was dropped shortly after.

Elsewhere in the Top 40 that week in 2004, Kelis was in the middle of a frustrating four-week stint at Number 2 with Milkshake, Outkast's Hey Ya was in the Top 5, and New York band Scissor Sisters landed their first Top 10 hit with Comfortably Numb at 10.

Further down, a little-known band called Maroon 5 made their UK chart debut with Harder To Breathe at 13, while indie rockers The Zutons also landed their first Top 40 with Pressure Point at 19.