| DAMI | Runner-up of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, ___ Im (pictured) (4) |
| OLLY | The runner-up of the sixth series of The X Factor, _ Murs (4) |
| OZZY | Runner-up of "Survivor: Cook Islands" |
| GATES | Gareth ___, the runner-up of the first series of Pop Idol (5) |
| ALAS | Unfortunately part of the make-up of the Australasian (4) |
| RUSS | Did he organise the break up of the USSR? (4) |
| SAIRA | First runner-up of The Apprentice, now a TV presenter, _ Khan (5) |
| BIANCA | _ Miller, runner-up of The Apprentice 2014 (6) |
| LIBYA | Hosts and runners-up of the 1982 African Cup of Nations (5) |
| IVAN | Pavlov's first name (made up of the last four letters of "Pavlovian") |
| STAN | Overzealous admirer possibly from a mash-up of the terms stalker and fan in an Eminem song |
| NEWS | Word that's only coincidentally made up of the four main compass points |
| HAIM | Band made up of the sisters Alana, Este, and Danielle |
| SACKRACE | Contest ___ it's in the bag (4-4) |
| CURREN | South African Wimbledon runner-up of 1985, Kevin ... (6) |
| MADISONKEYS | Runner-up of tennis' 2017 U.S. Open [Wisconsin] |
| LIBERTY | Group formed from the runners-up of 2001 series Popstars, ------- X (7) |
| AIKEN | "Idol" runner-up of 2003 |
| ADMIRALSCUP | Dump a sailor at sea, nothing less, to secure first in contest ___ this one? (8,3) |
| RETRACE | Go back over contest ___ about time to cover it (7) |
