Ananova:

Pop Idol finalists Sam Nixon and Susanne Manning are to be given record deals whether or not they win the ITV1 show.

The Sun says it's seen a memo ordering talent scouts at the show's 19 Management to prepare the pair for pop stardom.

An industry insider said: "They have asked some of the country's leading songwriters to come up with tracks for their debut singles."

But the news is set to anger Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, who says he's fed up with wannabes from reality TV signing recording contracts, only to flop, says The Sun.

He said he is bored of stars with the same image, but hailed Michelle McManus from Glasgow as "a breath of fresh air" as his fellow judge Pete Waterman insisted McManus will be forgotten within a year.

Meanwhile, former Pop Idol contestant Rik Waller is backing McManus in her row with finalist Susanne Manning. He said "Michelle would eat Susanne for breakfast - in a professional sense."

Waller also criticised 21-year-old Susanne, saying: "If she's making comments about Michelle's weight then that's just plain wrong."

It follows reports that Manning called McManus "a fat cow".

Waller added: "I never got any hassle on the show because the people I was in with were supportive. We all worked together.

"It's simply not fair to pick up on things like that. I've seen the new show, and in singing terms Michelle squashes her to a pulp."