Channel 7 remains coy about Australian Idol return date

It’s still not clear when Australian Idol will be hitting screens.

The revived singing competition format’s return was announced way back in October 2020 at the Seven Network’s Upfronts presentation.

At the time, the network said the show – which it called “the biggest show in the world” and “the granddaddy of them all” – would return in 2022.

One year later at the October 2021 Upfronts, Australian Idol was shown in a timeline of Seven’s upcoming content slate. The plan, it seems, was for the show to screen in the second half of the year, after My Kitchen Rules and Australia’s Got Talent. 

That same timeline also had The Voice Australia screening in H2, however it has since been revealed that The Voice will begin screening soon after the Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends.

A Channel 7 spokesperson declined to comment on direct timelines for Idol, and only said an update would be provided in the future.

The Seven Network’s director of scheduling, Brook Hall, has previously noted the logistical challenges facing the show in light of COVID restrictions and the changing landscape.

“Idol has international judges flying in, there’s contestants and it’s live. A lot of other shows have moved to pre-recording. But with Idol a very important part of that are the live shows and the audience choosing each week,” he told TV Tonight.

“We want the true experience where they’re travelling around Australia, turning up at auditoriums with huge crowds. That needs to be filmed in advance. I don’t think there’s a logical workaround.

“We want the Opera House event feeling. Even if it’s not there, we can’t cheat it. That is what people think of when they think Idol.”

Australia’s Got Talent was another victim of the logistical challenges of COVID. The show was ultimately put on the back burner in 2021, when Sydney was plunged into an extended lockdown.

At the time, the network also noted how important live audiences were to the success of the show.