With five seasons already done and dusted SA Idol enthusiasts are gearing up for the latest installment of the immensely popular award winning reality show. Chia Kougianos finds out more…

Season Six kicked off in the Mother City where the first set of auditions were held at the International Convention Centre with hosts Liezel van der Westhuizen and Proverb.

With former Idols judge Dave Thompson relocating to Australia last year, the show was left with one judge short. Dave’s presence was replaced with a celebrity judge in each of the five cities audition rounds with speculation still continuing as to who will be the permanent replacement for the remainder of the show. Perhaps this season will see a celebrity guest judge throughout the show?   

Love it or loathe it, one cannot deny the power the local reality show has as it filters through our television sets and takes over our Sunday night viewing in households around the country.

I tuned in to the first episode that aired on Sunday night and was truly amazed by what I saw. Ranging from the bizarre and quirky to humble and talented, season 6 is set to be reality television at its best. One contestant that springs to mind is Jethro Champion. Upon breaking into a rather high-pitched rendition of a song all judges failed to recognized dear old Randall asked if he carries his own canister of helium around. Gareth then enthusiastically exclaimed he wants to have him on his radio show while the remainder of the judges looked on in amusement.

The next contestant to step up to the judging plank was no better off as she nervously passed wind before even getting to the song part causing an Idol audition first and a video clip sure to get thousands of YouTube views.

When twenty-one year old FHM model Adeline Mocke strutted in to the audition room, the judges fell quiet before Randall and Gareth gave their immediate thumbs up before she even opened her mouth. Luckily, it turns out the blonde beauty, wearing skinny jeans and a sparkly top, could in fact sing and South African men everywhere can look forward to seeing her on our screens again as she was given her golden ticket.

Next up was Jan Hoogendyk aka Elvis Blue. The rock star stage name is in memory of an 11 year old boy, named Elvis Blue, who died of HIV/AIDS last year. The little boy’s dream was to be a rock star and after his death Jan adopted his name and went out to pursue Elvis Blue’s dream by entering Idols. He also helps Aids orphans in the George area learn to play guitar and donates used guitars to the children. I was surprised to discover that Jan is in fact an accomplished Afrikaans Gospel singer, with two albums under his belt namely Diep Riviere and Ontskemer. Ontskemer was even nominated for a SAMA award earlier this year. Elvis delivered a memorable rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” and won the approval of the judges bringing Mara to tears.

Sunday night’s first episode of Idols truly brought about some memorable auditions ranging from the idle to idol and if the history of the show is anything to go by, we’re all set for another season of riveting reality television viewing.