The ninth season of Australian Idol premiered on 29 January 2024.[1] It is the show's second season to air on Seven Network, after the network bought the rights to the series from Network 10. The grand final was won by Dylan Wright who released his winner's single, "Paper Heart", on 25th March 2024.
Production
In July 2023, it was officially revealed that the show had been renewed by Seven Network for a ninth season, set to premiere in 2024.[2] It was later revealed that Ricki Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie would return as hosts, and that Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark would be returning to their judging positions. However, Harry Connick Jr and Meghan Trainor would not return, with Trainor leaving due to family reasons. Original judge Marcia Hines returned as a main judge.[3][4] Seven officially confirmed the 2024 judges at their upfronts in October 2023.[5]
Auditions
Auditions were held in various cities around Australia. In a few cases, a single judge visited a remote location to audition contestants by themselves. For the first time on any show with the Idol format, contestants were not guaranteed a "golden ticket" if they got two or three "yes" votes from the judges. Instead, they were sent to a holding area until the end of the day, when the judges would further narrow down the contestants they saw, potentially have some contestants sing again, and decide who made the Top 30, down from 50 in the previous season.[6]
24 contestants reached this round. Each contestant sang a song solo in front of a live audience. The judges then decided who would progress to the final 21.
Over three rounds, seven singers will perform in front of a live audience, by the end of each round four singers will make it through to the top 12. The judges will also each be given one โFastPassโ which, whilst not exactly a Touchdown, works like a Golden Buzzer, automatically sending someone into the Top 12.[14]
Singer received a "FastPass" and advanced to the Top 12
Dylan Wright, born on (1993-02-22) 22 February 1993 (age 31),[15][16] is from Bangalow, New South Wales. He became the ninth winner of Australian Idol on 25 March 2024.
Denvah Baker-Moller, born on (2000-09-05) 5 September 2000 (age 23),[19][20] is from Rockhampton, Queensland. She reached the Grand Finale on 25 March 2024, but was eliminated prior to the final round of performances.
During each round of the live performances, each contestant sings a song with a given theme. After all contestants have sung, the judges choose one contestant to directly advance to the next stage; then, the public is given approximately 24 hours to vote for their favourite singers. During the results night, after voting has closed, the four contestants with the fewest votes sing againโin pairs. The singer with the lowest number of votes, per each pair, is eliminated from the competition.
Top 12 (25-27 February)
Singer received immunity and advanced to the next stage
Each contestant performed a song on live performance night. The judges opted not to put any singer directly into the Grand Finale, meaning that all results would be decided by the public vote. On results night, after voting had closed, the contestants each sang again. After each pair of contestants had sung, the results were announced for those two singers: one eliminated, and one was put through to the Grand Finale, three in total.
Wright performed the coronation single, "Paper Heart", upon winning.
Elimination chart
Females
Males
Top 21
Top 12
Top 12 "FastPass"
Winner
Did Not Perform
Safe
Bottom 2/4
Judgesโ Vote
Eliminated
Stage:
Top 21
Finals
Week:
18/2
19/2
20/2
27/2
5/3
11/3
18/3
25/3
Place
Contestant
Result
1
Dylan Wright
Top 12
Top 10
Bottom 4
Winner
2
Amy Reeves
Top 12
Top 8
Runner-up
3
Denvah Baker-Moller
Top 12
Top 10
Bottom 4
Eliminated
4-6
Trent Richardson
Top 12
Eliminated
Isaac McCallum
Top 12
Ivana Ilic
Top 12
Bottom 2 (26/2)
Bottom 2 (3/3)
Top 6
7-8
Drea Onamade
Top 12
Top 8
Eliminated
Kiani Smith
Top 12
Bottom 2 (4/3)
9-10
Tyler Hammill
Top 12
Eliminated
TJ Zimba
Top 12
Bottom 2 (25/2)
11-12
Ripley Alexander
Top 12
Eliminated
Imogen Spendlove
Top 12
Top 21 (Part 3)
Kym Miaco
Eliminated
Jake Carlson
Olivia Brittion
Top 21 (Part 2)
Natasha Rose
Eliminated
Jackson Smith
Saoirse Harding
Top 21 (Part 1)
Bethany Byrne
Eliminated
Kobe White
Chenai Boucher
Ratings
On 28 January 2024, OzTAMโs rating data recording system changed. Viewership data will now focus on National reach and National total ratings instead of the 5 metro centres and overnight shares.