Season 7
Idols is back and the seventh season started on Sunday 5 June. Join the trio of judges as they head to Cape Town where they separate sensational singers from the hopelessly delusional.
Tune in to see all of the audition action; from the sidesplitting, tone deaf hopefuls, to the Golden Ticket winners, who will all have a shot at being the next South African Idol.
From Sunday, 5 June, viewers could tune in to watch all the best, worst, and downright crazy singers in the country try to impress the show's judges.
Randall Abrahams, Gareth Cliff, new judge Unathi Msengana as well as a special celebrity guest judge at every audition had the task of finding South Africa's next singing sensation.
Contestants were allowed to audition with musical instruments again this year, and the role of Idols 7's host was filled again by rapper and musician ProVerb.
The winner's prize this season included a recording contract from Universal Music SA, a new Ford Fiesta, as well as other prizes valued at over R1-million.
Idols was broadcast on M-Net, and simulcast on M-Net HD and Mzansi Magic.
After the Theatre Phase of the competition, it was up to Idols fans to choose the winner of the season. Each week, the contestant/s with the least votes were sent home until there was only one person standing – South Africa's next Idol, David van Vuuren.
Fans could vote in different ways – via SMS, telephone calls, or MXit. Voting closed on the Monday evening after the Sunday night Spectacular show and the results were audited on the Tuesday before it was made public in the live Tuesday night Results Show.
Channel 199 on DStv was the home of the Idols Extra channel, where one can watch every audition from around the country.
Unlike previous seasons which had continuous loops of audition footage, this year, Channel 199 brought viewers all the audition action in special half-hour themed slots which made up the schedule for the day.
Starting with Cape Town auditions, the slots alternated every week as the show progressed so that every audition from around South Africa could be viewed.
Viewers could also catch some exclusive interviews with contestants from all the regions to get to know them a little better.
This season the Idols audition tour also ventured into two fresh hotbeds of talent: Polokwane in the Far North - the heart of the Limpopo region - and Soweto.
In another Idols' first, this year's auditions were held in massive stadia and huge outdoor arenas to accommodate the crowds - nearly 2,000 people flocked to the Piazza at Montecasino to audition for the Judges early in April.
Auditions this year were open to to South African citizens between the ages of 16 and 30. Auditions took place on the following dates:
Cape Town
Date: Saturday, 12 February 2011
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Polokwane
Date: Saturday, 26 February 2011
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Durban
Date: Saturday, 5 March 2011
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Soweto
Date: Saturday, 26 March 2011
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 2 April 2011
Venue: Montecasino
On 15 April, the Top 96 singers who were chosen from across South Africa during the audition tour convened at Sun City for Theatre Week.