The sixth season of Australian Idol premiered on Sunday August 24, 2008, on Network Ten.
Kyle Sandilands, Ian Dickson, and Marcia Hines returned as judges, however long term judge Mark Holden left to pursue other interests. Andrew G was temporarily absent while he prepared for his wedding and Ricki-Lee Coulter is acting as a new back-stage host. The London auditions featured guest judges Tina Arena and Darren Hayes.
Also for the second time on an Idol contest, the format for eliminations in the Top 12 round will be different. In the new result nights, the bottom 3 of the week will be announced first and the voting line will be opened again for viewers to vote for their favourite in the bottom 3. Music Idol, the Bulgarian version of Idol, were the first to use this new format in their second season. New Zealand Idol season 3 used a similar format for the second week of the finals, but dropped it afterwards.
Top 12 Finalists
Thanh Bui
- Thanh Bui is a 25-year-old from Abbotsford, Victoria. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, to Vietnamese parents, he moved to Melbourne as a 7-year-old. Thanh Bui was part of the boy-band North who toured around Malaysia and split up in 2006. Aside of Australian Idol he is the director and vocal coach at International Artist Academy.
Wes Carr
- Wes Carr is a 26-year-old from Bondi, New South Wales. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Wes Carr moved to Bondi as a 15-year-old. Before he auditioned for Australian Idol, Wes Carr performed and had regular resident gigs around Sydney.
Luke Dickens
- Luke Dickens is a 25-year-old from Young, New South Wales. Before he auditioned, Luke Dickens was a sheep shearer and had taught himself how to play the guitar.
Chrislyn Hamilton
- Chrislyn Hamilton is a 17-year-old from Scarborough, Queensland. Before her audition, Chrislyn Hamilton was in high school and was the lead singer in her school band, picked up a leading role in her school musical and performed in a gospel rock choir group every week.
Teale Jakubenko
- Teale Jakubenko is a 22-year-old from Yatala, Queensland. Born in Gold Coast, Queensland, Teale Jakubenko recently toured with renowned Australian singer Wendy Matthews.
Madam Parker
- Madam Parker is a 23-year-old from Beverly Hills, New South Wales. Originally from New Zealand, Parker moved to Australia in order to make a better future for her son and pursue her musical dreams.
Sophie Paterson
- Sophie Paterson is a 23-year-old from London, United Kingdom. Originally from Maryknoll, Victoria, Paterson moved to England to pursue a music career. Before she auditioned, Sophie Paterson worked as a bar manager and performed regularly.
Roshani Priddis
- Roshani Priddis is a 21-year-old from Ashfield, New South Wales, although she grew up in Tamworth, New South Wales. Born in Sri Lanka, Priddis moved to Australia as a 6-week-old when she was adopted by an Australian family.
Mark Spano
- Mark Spano is a 26-year-old from Brighton, Victoria. Mark Spano fronted band The Need for seven years, but had to stop after losing his voice due to polyp in his vocal chords. During his 2 year recovery, Mark Spano worked as a labourer until he auditioned for Australian Idol.
Tom Williams
- Tom Williams is a 16-year-old from Adelaide, South Australia. At 15-months-old, Tom Williams was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Before the auditions, he attended high school. Despite his supposedly large fan basis, Tom was eliminated during the Top 10 Results Night.
Brooke Addamo
- Brooke Addamo is a 17-year-old from Werribee, Victoria. Addamo takes professional vocal coaching and won Teen Idol in 2007. She was eliminated during the Top 11 Results Night.
Jonny Taylor
- Jonny Taylor is a 22-year-old from Perth, Western Australia. Since 2006, Taylor has been determined to make his life count after a serious motorcycle accident almost took his life. He was eliminated during the Top 12 Results Night.
More Information
- Format Interactive reality game show
- Created by Simon Fuller
- Presented by James Mathison, Andrew G, Ricki-Lee Coulter
- Judges Kyle Sandilands, Ian Dickson, Marcia Hines
Links:
Idols South Africa | Season 6
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. | Drew Season 4
Tatiana Nicole Del Toro
