| GARETHGATES | The runner-up to Will Young in 2002's Pop Idol (6,5) |
| GARETH | Runner-up to Will Young on Pop Idol, _ Gates (6) |
| GATES | Gareth _, lost to Will Young in Pop Idol (5) |
| TOTAL | What it adds up to will be a complete write-off (5) |
| PITCHBATTLE | 2017 TV singing contest for groups, in which Chaka Khan, Seal and Will Young were guest judges (5,6) |
| CONSOLATION | Prize for the runner-up |
| PHILIPGLASS | US composer awarded the Best Film Music BAFTA for 2002's The Hours (6,5) |
| IDOL | TV talent show won by Will Young in 2002, Pop ---- (4) |
| EVERGREEN | Song originally recorded by Westlife and covered by Will Young in 2002 (9) |
| SPAIN | Which country was the runner-up in the Davis Cup in 2025? (5) |
| CHARLIE | ____ Hunnam, actor who played the title roles in 2002's Nicholas Nickleby and 2017's King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (7) |
| RIO | The city in 2002's "City of God" |
| JESSEMCCARTNEY | Pop singer with Dream Street who was the runner-up on season 3 of The Masked Singer as the Turtle: 2 wds. |
| LAMBERT | Singer who was the runner-up in American Idol in 2009 and now performs with Queen, Adam - - - (7) |
| TAYLOR | Who ended as the runner-up in the season-ending ATP Tour Final in Turin? (6) |
| OLLYMURS | Singer who rose to fame as the runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor (4,4) |
| LEE | Who ended as the runner-up in the men's singles at the All-england badminton championship 2025? (3) |
| REDKNAPP | Surname of former pop star Louise who was one of the runners-up on Strictly in 2016 and who performed as Flamingo on the Masked Dancer in 2021 (8) |
| SECONDBEST | The winner is apparently inferior to the runner-up (6-4) |
| OLLY | The runner-up of the sixth series of The X Factor, _ Murs (4) |
