Australian Idol (season 7)

Format changes

Ian Dickson, and Marcia Hines returned as judges; however, long-term judge Kyle Sandilands was sacked after causing controversy on his radio show prior to the premiere, although he was still present for the auditions as they had been pre-recorded some weeks earlier. On 23 August 2009, it was announced on the Idol show that the new judge taking over Kyle Sandilands' spot would be Jay Dee Springbett. Andrew G returned as host, with assistance from Ricki-Lee Coulter due to the departure of James Mathison. The first auditions saw guest judge Brian McFadden join the panel, and his fiancée Delta Goodrem acted as a guest judge for the Sydney auditions.

A further change was also decided for the Top 12 round eliminations. The Monday-night elimination show was axed in favour of a two-hour 'super Sunday' elimination/ performance show, in which a contestant was eliminated according to votes tallied the previous week, followed by performances.

Ratings

The premiere episode which saw auditions in both Melbourne and Brisbane, achieved an audience of 1.3m. This was considerably lower than previous first episodes. In 2006, the premiere garnered 1.4m, the 2007 reached 1.65m and 2008 achieved 1.4m. The peak audience, however, of 1.77m was the biggest-seen in years. The show won the night in the 18–49 demographic.

Auditions

The auditions were held at the following locations:

^ Auditioning contestants were required to be between the ages 16 and 30 on 30 June 2009 (born between 1 July 1979 and 1 July 1993).

Semi-Finals

These aired on the week of 24 to 27 August, allowing viewers to vote. The "Wildcard" Performance Show followed on Sunday, 30 August, with live results revealed the following week, on 6 September.

Group 1

Advancing to the Top 12: Stan Walker & Kate Cook
Wild Card Contenders: Hayley Warner & Toby Moulton

Group 2

Advancing to the Top 12: Ashleigh Toole & Nathan Brake
Wild Card Contenders: Lauren Street & Casey Barnes

Group 3

Advancing to the Top 12: Sabrina Batshon & Scott Newnham
Wild Card Contender: Aliqua Mao

Group 4

Advancing to the Top 12: James Johnston & Kim Cooper
Wild Card Contenders: Ed Zaidan, Lucie Johnson, Tim Johnston & Tenielle Muslin

Wildcard

Advancing to the Top 12 through the Public vote: Toby Moulton and Hayley Warner
Advancing to the Top 12 through the Judges picks: Casey Barnes and Tim Johnston

Stan Walker

Stan Walker is 19 years old. Although residing in Australia for the past three and a half years, Stan grew up in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand. He works in retail. He has the Māori word ataahua (meaning "beautiful"") tattooed on his neck.

Audition: "Ordinary People" (John Legend) Theatre Week (Round 1): "Jesus Loves Me" Theatre Week (Round 2): "Use Somebody" (Kings of Leon) Theatre Week (Round 3): "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) Top 24: "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys) Top 12: "Umbrella" (Rihanna) Top 11: "Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica) Top 10: "Straight Lines" (Silverchair) Top 9: "Purple Rain" (Prince and The Revolution) Top 8: "Dear Mr. President" (P!nk) Top 7: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (Beyoncé) Top 6: "Circle of Life" (Elton John) Top 6: "We Will Rock You" (Queen) Top 5: "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) Top 5: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) Top 4: "The Climb" (Miley Cyrus) Top 4: "Let Me Love You" (Mario) Top 3: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (Chris Tomlin) Top 3: "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (James Brown) Top 3: "Eye of the Tiger" (Survivor) Top 2: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (Bee Gees) Top 2: "Superstar" (Luther Vandross) Top 2: "Sweet Dreams" (Beyoncé) Top 2: "Black Box" (Winner's Single) – Winner

Hayley Warner

Hayley Warner is an 18-year-old from the south of Sydney. She is the lead singer of her band, Bleached Academy and works in retail at a surf shop. She is also related to a young and upcoming New South Wales cricket player David Warner.

Audition: "Daughters" (John Mayer) Theatre Week (Round 1): N/A Theatre Week (Round 2): "Human" (The Killers) Theatre Week (Round 3): "Sober" (P!nk) Top 24: "Cryin' Shame" (Diesel) Wildcard: "I Do Not Hook Up" (Kelly Clarkson) Top 12: "Light Surrounding You" (Evermore) Top 11: "Misery Business" (Paramore) Top 10: "Leave (Get Out)" (JoJo) Top 9: "Dancing in the Dark" (Bruce Springsteen) Top 8: "Funhouse" (Pink) Top 7: "Tainted Love" (Gloria Jones) Top 6: "These Days" (Powderfinger) Top 6: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" (Frankie Valli) Top 5: "Somebody Told Me" (The Killers) Top 5: "Stone Cold Sober" (Paloma Faith) Top 4: "I Don't Care" (Fall Out Boy) Top 4: "Heavy Cross" (Gossip) Top 3: "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (The Verve) Top 3: "New Sensation" (INXS) Top 3: "One" (U2) Top 2: "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder) Top 2: "UFO" (Sneaky Sound System) Top 2: "Don't Stop the Music" (Rihanna) Top 2: "Good Day" (Winner's Single) – Runner up

James Johnston

James Johnston (born 26 November 1990) is a 19-year-old from Wingham, New South Wales. He was a part of Starstruck in 2005, performing in front of thousands. He prefers the acoustic/rock style of music.

Audition: "Your Body Is a Wonderland" by John Mayer Theatre Week (Round 1): "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the show Carousel Theatre Week (Round 2): N/A Theatre Week (Round 3): "No Such Thing" John Mayer Top 24: "Crazy" Gnarls Barkley Top 12: "How to Save a Life" The Fray Top 11: "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" Fall Out Boy Top 10: "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" Train Top 9: "The Power of Love" Huey Lewis and the News Top 8: "Who Knew" P!nk Top 7: "Fever" Peggy Lee Top 6: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen Top 6: "You'll Never Walk Alone" (from the show Carousel) Top 5: "Mercy" (Duffy) Top 5: "Use Somebody" (Kings of Leon) Top 4: "Daughters" By John Mayer Top 4: "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (Rob Thomas) Top 3: "More Than Words" (Extreme) Top 3: "Hold the Line" (Toto) Top 3: "Learn to Fly" (Foo Fighters) – Eliminated on 15 November

Nathan Brake

Nathan Brake (born 27 July 1991) is an 18-year-old from Guildford, Sydney. He is a student at the Australian International Performing Arts High School. He is the lead singer of his band, Ackolade. Nathan has since performed at a number of events including the 2009 Melbourne Christmas carols with Ricki Lee Coulter.

Nathan Brake has an unofficial fan site Nathan Nation where upcoming events are mentioned and contains a forum for fans.

Audition: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen) Theatre Week (Round 1): "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations) Theatre Week (Round 2): "To the Moon and Back"(Savage Garden) Theatre Week (Round 3): "We Are the Champions" (Queen) Top 24: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John) Top 12: "Stop and Stare" (OneRepublic) Top 11: "Second Chance" (Shinedown) Top 10: "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson) Top 9: "Livin' on a Prayer" (Bon Jovi) Top 8: "Just Like a Pill" (P!nk) Top 7: "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (Duke Ellington) Top 6: "Thriller" (Michael Jackson) Top 6: "The Music of the Night" (from the show The Phantom of the Opera) Top 5: "Makes Me Wonder" (Maroon 5) Top 5: "Mad World" (Michael Andrews and Gary Jules) Top 4: "Red" (Daniel Merriweather) Top 4: "Closer" (Ne-Yo) – Eliminated on 8 November

Toby Moulton

Toby Moulton is a 30-year-old primary school teacher, born in Melrose, South Australia. He teaches at Star of the Sea primary school in Henley Beach.

Audition: "Exit Music" by Radiohead Theatre Week (Round 1): N/A Theatre Week (Round 2): N/A Theatre Week (Round 3): "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol Top 24: "Yellow" by Coldplay Wildcard: "With or Without You" by U2 Top 12: "Creep" by Radiohead Top 11: "Starlight" by Muse Top 10: "Take on Me" by a-ha Top 9: "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner Top 8: "Please Don't Leave Me" by P!nk Top 7: "My Way" by Frank Sinatra Top 6: "Exit Music (For a Film)" by Radiohead Top 6: "Somebody to Love" by Queen Top 5: "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis Top 5: "Politik" by Coldplay – Withdrew on November, 1

Kate Cook

Kate Cook is a 26-year-old from Lowood, Queensland. She works as a meat cutter at an abattoir. Her mother, who is her biggest musical influence, committed suicide when Kate was 16. Kate wrote her first single release about her mother, "Make You Stay" (released independently and available to Australian radio in April 2010).

Audition: "Make You Stay" (own composition) Theatre Week (Round 1): N/A Theatre Week (Round 2): N/A Theatre Week (Round 3): "Hard Workin' Man" by Brooks & Dunn Top 24: "Your Mama Don't Dance" by Poison Top 12: "Stuck in the Middle" by Stealers Wheel Top 11: "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet Top 10: "Landslide" by Dixie Chicks Top 9: "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" by Billy Ocean Top 8: "Trouble" by P!nk Top 7: "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles Top 6: "Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks Top 6: "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield – Eliminated on 25 October

Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper (born 29 November 1987) is a 21-year-old born in Melbourne. At age 17, she moved to Townsville, Queensland, after her father was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. She works in fashion retail.

Audition: "Like It Loud" by Cassie Davis Theatre Week (Round 1): "Sorry" by Maria Mena Theatre Week (Round 2): "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon Theatre Week (Round 3): "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood Top 24: "Waking Up in Vegas" by Katy Perry Top 12: "Best of You" by Foo Fighters Top 11: "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick Top 10: "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga Top 9: "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by Kim Wilde Top 8: "Family Portrait" by P!nk Top 7: "The Man I Love" by Ella Fitzgerald – Eliminated on 18 October

Scott Newnham

Scott Newnham is a 20-year-old from Melbourne. He works as a bricklayer, and before Idol, had never sung in front of another person except his best friend.

Audition: "You Give Me Something" by James Morrison Theatre Week (Round 1): "Elevator Love" by Guy Sebastian Theatre Week (Round 2): "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson Theatre Week (Round 3): "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder Top 24: "Run It!" by Chris Brown Top 12: "Come Together" by The Beatles Top 11: "American Woman" by The Guess Who Top 10: "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal Top 9: "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire Top 8: "So What" by P!nk – Eliminated on 11 October

Tim Johnston

James Johnston (born in 1981) is a 28-year-old from Newcastle, New South Wales. He auditioned for The X Factor, Series 5, while living in the United Kingdom. He advanced to the bootcamp round, but failed to make the cut for the Visit to the Judges' houses. He works as a barista.

Audition: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye Theatre Week (Round 1): "Angels" by Robbie Williams Theatre Week (Round 2): N/A Theatre Week (Round 3): N/A Top 24: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder Wildcard: "Yesterday" by The Beatles Top 12: "Halo" by Beyoncé Top 11: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones Top 10: "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake Top 9: "Heaven" by Bryan Adams – Eliminated on 4 October

Sabrina Batshon

Sabrina Batshon (born 26 October 1984) is an Australian-born singer, songwriter and actor from Rhodes, Sydney. She began singing and dancing at the age of two at the Johnny Young Talent School. She had roles on Australian television including Water Rats, G.P. and Home and Away. She won several talent quests including the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge. In 2000, she sang with The Australian Girls Choir and Paulini for the Qantas campaign CD, The Spirit of Australia. She was understudy to Nikki Webster as Dorothy in a 2000/2001 stage performance of The Wizard of Oz and was cast as the 'Little Girl' in the 2001 production of The Witches of Eastwick (musical) in Melbourne. She attended the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and was named in November 2004 in Parliament by Andrew Refshauge as being one of Australia's best singers. During 2005 and early 2009 Batshon experienced chronic depression, agoraphobia and panic attacks, and was admitted to hospital. Producer Stephen Tate said speaking "openly and honestly" about depression was the way forward for the media and community.

Audition: "Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole Theatre Week (Round 1): "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles Theatre Week (Round 2): "When I Fall in Love" by Nat King Cole Theatre Week (Round 3): "Help" by The Beatles Top 24: "Hush Hush" by The Pussycat Dolls Top 12: "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson Top 11: "Numb" by Linkin Park Top 10: "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta – Eliminated on 27 September

Casey Barnes

Casey Barnes is a 30-year-old father born in Tasmania. At a young age he became blind in his right eye after an infection. He has opened for Bryan Adams and played alongside Eskimo Joe, Vanessa Amorosi and Diesel during his career.

Audition: "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor Theatre Week (Round 1): N/A Theatre Week (Round 2): "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John Theatre Week (Round 3): N/A Top 24: "Her Diamonds" by Rob Thomas Wildcard: "Never Say Never (Don't Let Me Go)" by The Fray Top 12: "On My Mind" by Powderfinger Top 11: "I'm Not Over" by Carolina Liar – Eliminated on 20 September

Ashleigh Toole

Ashleigh Toole is an 18-year-old from the Central Coast, New South Wales. A student, she grew up performing in multiple music festivals with her family.

Audition: "Nobody Knows" by Pink Theatre Week (Round 1): "I Wanna Be Your Everything" by Vanessa Amorosi Theatre Week (Round 2): "Angels" by Robbie Williams Theatre Week (Round 3): "River Deep - Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner Top 24: "Hurt" by Christina Aguilera Top 12: "Miss Independent" by Kelly Clarkson – Eliminated on 13 September

Elimination chart

All four remaining contestants from Semi-Final No. 4 were selected for the Wildcard show

Toby Moulton withdrew from the competition, keeping original eliminee James Johnston in the competition.