World-First Format Change To This Year’s 'Australian Idol'
The format change on this year's 'Australian Idol' will allow viewers to spend more time with their favourite singers during the audition stage.
Kyle Sandilands, Marcia Hines, Amy Shark & Harry Connick Jr. on 'Australian Idol' (Source: Supplied)
Australian Idol will lead the franchise in a world-first format change, allowing viewers to spend more time with their favourite singers during the audition stage.
As TV Tonight reports, the tweak to the show’s format isn’t huge – and is likely needed when the way the show runs hasn’t changed in 25 years – but promises further audience engagement and investment in growing stars.
Instead of singers progressing through the audition stage after one raw performance, the new format will see potential winners appear before judges Kyle Sandilands, Amy Shark and Marcia Hines once more – they may also have to sing again.
The show’s producers, Fremantle and the Simon Cowell-owned company Syco Entertainment have signed off on the change.
“You might see someone brilliant at an audition and say ‘Wow, I really love them,’ but you might not see them for weeks – whereas that’s not the case with a lot of our reality shows,” Seven Head of Scheduling Brook Hall said about the inspiration behind the change, via TV Tonight.
“In the two we’re against, MAFS [Married At First Sight] and Survivor, you’re seeing the key characters each day. We’re trying to address that.”
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Hall added, “We’re not bastardising the format by any means. I think it’s just a way of updating it because largely the format had not changed in 25 years.”
Australian Idol will return to our screens at 7:30 pm on Channel 7 on Monday, 29 January.
This year’s edition of Australian Idol won’t just see the return of the judges – with Hines moving from guest judge to a full-time role in 2024 – but also the return of hosts Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
Hines hinted at playing a more significant role during the new season of Australian Idol last year, telling Jess Rowe in an interview, “It looks like I’m doing it again this year. I look forward to it.”
Last February, Hines appeared on the debut season of the Australian Idol reboot, an experience she felt “honoured” by. “I’m returning to Australian Idol in 2023 as a guest judge!” Hines said. “I feel honoured to have been asked to come back. Australian Idol is a great vehicle for uncovering some fantastic Australian talent. What a ride!”
In other Australian Idol news, host and alum Ricki-Lee recently announced her first new album in ten years, On My Own, and unveiled a new single, Ghost.
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