The latest hat that has been thrown into the Idol ring as replacement for Kyle Sandilands is Brian McFadden.
The former Westlife singer and his partner Delta Goodrem are already guest judges in the audition episodes, beginning this Sunday night.
McFadden’s name has been floated by the Daily Telegraph.
“On the strength that he has already appeared on the show, it would be silly not to strongly consider him,” a source told the newspaper.
McFadden is a Foxtel identity, hosting 2 seasons of Football Superstar, but so far there has been mixed reception to his persona which sometimes sees him shooting from the hip.
Last night on The 7PM Project, Dicko tipped a young, fresh producer-type could take the role.
Amongst readers of this site, former Idol musical director John Foreman has attracted considerable support, including from industry names such as the Production Company’s Ken Mackenzie Forbes, singer Tania Doko, executive director of the Music Council of Australia Richard Letts and Tina Broad, director of music education campaign Music Play for Life.
TV Tonight is hearing whispers that the eventual replacement could be fresh face from left field, with an announcement possibly as far away as August 24th….. shhhhhhhhh.
UPDATED: McFadden has confirmed he won’t be the next judge according to news.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald says the shortlist includes Sony Music talent scout Jay Dee Springbett, John Farnham producer Ross Fraser and former Mushroom Records executive Mark Opitz.
Source: Daily Telegraph
Bring back Mark Holden.
VMan mentioned Big Night In which was an excellent format which Ten abused & let fall by the wayside.This would have been an excellent saturday night program (a new mature version of Hey Hey perhaps) but was not given a chance.John was an excellent host & the show was a big step forward for Australian programming.Alas we are bombarded with endless rubbish like the woeful 7pm project,& it is woeful,absolute crap.Some personalities should be seen in small doses.It cannot have much more time left.Simpson repeats anyone?Ten how about upping the ante (thanks Marcia) & getting Neighbours out of the high school period & giving it a new mature,more adult edged feel at 7pm.Geez don’t you guys watch Eastenders,Corrie?Take a leaf i say.Move on…….My dream is a 30 minute serial called Newtown set in Newtown based on shows such as Eastenders.Finally please remove Bill Woods (personality,what?) & i will resume watching Ten news.Thankyou.
McFadden is probably more disliked than kyle, when can we deport him?
Anyone who has seen McFadden on Footnall Superstar would be cringing at the thought of him being a regular on Idol. With the update, it sounds like someone important at TEN has finally seen sense. McFadden is making it look like he is dropping out, rather than the truth – a 2nd division talent attempting to play in the Premier League.
SMH has an interesting article today with 3 unknown names (to general public) as front runners. As I don’t know who they are, can’t say whether it matches Dicko’s tip on last night’s 7pm Project but the article had some good points.
I always get the feeling McFaddens whole personality is fake – he has slipped up a number of times and shown his true colours. As some others have said he is just a ‘lite’ version of kyle
I agree that it should be an Australian and someone who has along standing career…….i.e. John Foreman
@Steven Guy ~ I disagree. I think in the snippets we’ve seen of him (which have been very little btw because Idol have never cared about him) I’ve seen a good TV personality.
Do you remember that TEN actually have had confidence as a TV presenter because he did host that ‘Big Night In’ afew years back.
I do believe he has the personality to be on TV. The only thing that’s going against him is his looks. He’s old, you know? I’m pretty sure they wanna take a leaf out of US Idol and get some young looking judge to come on and diversify the age range.
If they can get Delta or Brian, I’m sure they’ll snap them up in a second. Even Vanessa Amerosi.
They did fire Mark Holden, so I seriously doubt they’ll take him back, or whether he’d want to come back.
If the young musical talents like Delta, Brian and Amo etc all decline…which I think they will because they are busy kids….then Foreman just might get chosen. But if they do find someone who accepts a 3 month contract….Foreman’s out of the picture.
Anyone but Brian McFadden please!.
They only need 2 options, John Foreman or Mark Holden.. Hence 2 originals!
well, they may as well replace one arrogant knob with another I suppose…
The hype surrounding Kyle’s replacement won’t hurt the show. I think Brian or John would be equally good. Hey, why doesn’t John Farnham do something like that?
Even though he might be Deltra Goodrem’s squeeze I think most of us would prefer someone else – McFadden was one of a very small minority who pathetically stuck his neck out praising vile over his recent on air stunt, while saying nothing about the poor 14 year old who was the victim in all of this.
Give me a break – Ten got rid of Sandilands – let’s not replace him with one of his mates!
John Foreman was an excellent choice – let’s rally behind him!
Perhaps Ten could have a show on at 7pm, where all the potential judges compete in a cooking contest to see who will become the next Master Wa^%ker “judge” of Idol?
call it “Master -Who-Cares”?
I just think he is missing a personality !
Makes sense, boring for boring, commercially unviable for commercially unviable.
PLease God nooooooooooo
I guess the more chat and speculation the more viewers for Idol and Ch Ten !!
Brian McFadden & Delta will be great as a guest Judges but John Forman should be our own “Australian ” permanent Judge.
Love his solo music,but no there should be a true aussie on the panel as both Marcia & Dicko have international backgrounds.No offense to the above.