South Africa's Reality Singing Show Kicks Off

Since 2002, when Heinz Winckler became SA's very first Idol, thousands and thousands of hopefuls have expressed their desire to follow in his footsteps or to become another Idols legend in the fold of winners like Elvis Blue and Khaya Mthethwa or mighty successful finalists, such as Gail Nkoane Mabalane, Lloyd Cele, and Graeme Watkins, to name but a few.


However, if you're serious about becoming the country's next singing sensation, your journey starts with a very scary first hurdle – the snaking Idols audition queues and subsequent honest opinion from the Idols SA Judges.

This week Sunday, 13 July at 17:30 the country's premier talent search returns to M-Net and Mzansi Magic for its historic tenth season and for the next four weeks we will see how singers with a diverse range of talents try to nab a coveted Golden Ticket from the trio of decision-makers Unathi Msengana, Randall Abrahams and Gareth Cliff.

The first of these Idols SA Season 10 audition episodes plays out at the Carnival City Casino and Entertainment World on Gauteng's East Rand – a first in the history of Idols SA. And, on the Sundays to come we'll tour to audition cities Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria, in that order. In addition to the broadcasts on M-Net and Mzansi Magic on Sundays at 17:30, viewers can tune into the DStv Idols Extra channel – channel 198 – for more Idols fun, drama and tears.

What can you expect from Idols SA Season 10? "We'll be pulling out all the stops to make Idols Season 10 bigger and better than any of the previous seasons," says Idols SA spokesperson Lani Lombard. "For example, you'll see more established artists making appearances in the show, and we will be making exciting changes to the Top 10 shows later in the competition. But for now, all eyes are on SA's new emerging talent… and they're just getting better and better."

Idols judge Randall Abrahams agrees: "This year it won't be a battle between bad people and good people," Idols judge Randall Abrahams noted after the first round of auditions. "It is going to be a battle between good people and even better people."

Tune in to M-Net and Mzansi Magic at 17:30 this week to meet some of these diverse wannabees. How will the gorgeous lawyer who's ready to make a career change fare; or the single mom whose little girl has Randall wrapped around her little finger; not to forget the contortionist or the stripper who's ready to charm Unathi with his sexy physique!

(Idols SA)