Australian Idol not returning in 2010

It’s provided some great television over the years and highlighted some excellent talent but it seems that the good times are over for Australian Idol.

News.com.au is reporting, “Australian Idol will be the first TV casualty of the year, with the former ratings juggernaut to be ‘rested’ for 2010.”

3.34 million people sat glued to their televisions when Guy Sebastian won the premiere series in 2003. Just 1.4 million viewers watched Stan Walker’s walk away with the title of Australian Idol in the 2009 finale. A drop of almost two million viewers would suggest that Australia has lost interest in the talent show.

The series has certainly had its critics but there is no denying that the show has brought some extremely talented performers to our attention. Guy Sebastian’s first single, Angels Brought Me Here was recently named as Australia’s highest selling song of the decade. You might put that down to the hype surrounding the first series of Australian Idol, but that can’t explain the fact that his recent hit, Like It Like That, was the highest selling Australian artist song and 6th highest selling song overall in Australia in 2009. Like It Like That is also being used in a number of US television shows. Six years later and Guy is still selling CDs by the truckload.

The series has had its ups and downs and not all series winners have gone on to bigger and better things but even finalists who didn’t reach the final few have continued to make a mark on the entertainment world to varying degrees.

No official announcements have been made yet and those closest to the show are still refusing to confirm anything. Though it would seem unlikely that we’ll see Australian Idol on our screens again, no one has ruled out a come back.

“Ten is going to rest Australian Idol for 2010,” a source said.

“They will make a decision towards the end of 2010 as to whether it will return in 2011.

“They have asked (production company) Fremantle (Media) for ideas on how to relaunch in 2011.”

Channel 10 refused to comment and Fremantle did not return calls yesterday. – News.com.au

I’ve certainly enjoyed chatting to many of the people involved in the show on my 98.5 Sonshine FM morning radio programme including judges Dicko and Marica Hines as well as contestants such as Guy Sebastian, Cosima, Paulini, Damien Leith, Dean Geyer, Chris Murphy, Natalie Gauci, Carl Riseley and Wes Carr.

There have been some wonderful moments over the years but it looks like the journey is all but over. We’ll miss Australian Idol but thankfully we can still enjoy some great music that we would never have heard if the series had never made its way to our living rooms.

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