He did not return calls after his sacking.Idol is also adjusting to two other personnel changes. Musical director John Foreman will be replaced by his right-hand man, David Pritchard-Blunt. More significantly, the show's sardonic wildcard, James Mathison, has quit the series, leaving Andrew Gunsberg as the show's host, along with former contestant, Ricki-Lee Coulter.
Amid the show's rampant egos and hyperbole, Mathison was arguably the voice of reason.
Now co-hosting a Nova FM program and contributing to Ten's fledging 7pm Project, he has proved himself a comedic asset.
"It was pretty much presumed every year we would jump back on board each time," Mathison says. "Towards the end of last year, I started taking stock and thinking, 'I don't necessarily have to do it again'. I feel like it's time. If my heart's not in it, I can't."
He insists his decision was no reflection on the show itself. "It's hard for any show after their first year; it has the challenge of not being fresh," he says. "You have to continually morph yourself. MasterChef will have to do the same thing in a few years. But, I have to say, they didn't tell me they were going to one night a week. I found out after I left."
The show will now rely heavily on Gunsberg, who says producers never sought a replacement for Mathison.
"I was surprised and disappointed James left," he says. At the same time, I'm happy for him. I'll just have to talk the whole time. I've been broadcasting for 15 years. I can handle it."
BACK in April, Green Guide attended Idol's opening day of auditions in Flemington.Although registrations opened at 8.30am, contestants began arriving before 3am, carrying doonas and sleeping bags. They must pass through two sets of judges before they face the televised panel three days later.
The first is the show's vocal coaches, the second an executive producer panel comprising Greg Burness and Stephen Tate.
"All we're looking for at this stage is potential," Tate says.
The first contestant through is Danielle Hockley, a nervous 22-year-old from Perth, who was knocked back in the Perth leg but is looking for a second chance. She weakly covers a Joss Stone song before theatrically pleading her case.
Burness, perhaps seeing her suitability for the audition episode, invites her to return on Monday. As she bounds out of the room, he sighs heavily.
"Oh dear," he says to no one in particular.
Next is Mughien Mujiono, a freelance artist, who does a rough reading of Michael Buble's Fever. Crumbling with nerves, he fluffs his lines.
Burness is polite but honest. "You have nice tones," he says, "but it was a bit all over the shop. It was a good audition but it's not good enough for the show."
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