On Monday, 2 February at 19:00, the Idols crew moved to Durban in the hope of finding some exceptional singing talent. But, it seems that Durbanites had some weird and wacky tricks up their sleeves, in the hope of blowing the judges out of the water. The question is, how would they react?

Idols hopefuls arrived at the ICC in Durban, equipped with tans, tattoos, and a tune in their heads. Many brought family members and friends along for moral support, to brave the 35 degree heat with them in the queue. A new introduction this season is that contestants are allowed to bring a musical instrument of their choice into the audition room - but in typical Idols fashion, some contestants took this concept a little too far. Certain Idols wannabes thought it would help them if they played their songs on MP3s and cell phones, while simultaneously singing for the judges. Needless to say, these enterprising entrants didn’t win favour with the critical panel, whose standards are notoriously high.

In an interesting development, the judges persuaded one contestant to listen to herself after her audition, in order to make her understand how terrible she actually sounded. Things had undoubtedly kicked off to a hairy start in Durban, but as any Idols fan can tell you: the tide always turns.

After a few grey hours of absolutely miserable singing, the judges were treated to sunnier skies with an influx of excellent talent during the second half of the day. Randall even commented at the end of the day that it was the best they had ever seen from Durban since the show’s first season back in 2001. From Lize Heerman, a 21-year-old from Durban North who wowed the "fearsome foursome" with her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful at the keyboard, to Bandile Maphinda, a 19-year-old who grew up with a foster family in Amanzimtoti, Durban’s Idols really came to the party.

In the end, 21 rising stars were awarded a coveted "Golden Ticket" to the Johannesburg theatre phase of the competition. They will then have to battle it out with their contemporaries from the rest of the country, as eliminations come thick and fast from the judges who have the tough task of seeking out South Africa’s next Idol.

The following Durbanites made the grade:
*Londeka Jali (25) from Umlazi, Durban;
*Graeme Watkins (26) from Cape Town;
*Bradley Marshall (20) from, Durban ;
*Taryn-Lee Hudson(24) from North Coast, Durban;
*Prime Zulu (20) from Kwa Mashu, Durban;
*Pixie Bennett (24) from Morningside, Durban;
*Lendel Moonsamy (23) from Tongaard, Durban;
*Cassandra-Ann Gray (23) from Mount Edgecombe, Durban;
*Samkelo Mgobozi (17) from Westville, Durban;
*Bandile Maphinda (19) from Amazimtoti, Durban;
*Graeme Wicks (19) from Morningside, Durban;
*Thabani Ncube (25) from Ntuzuma, Durban;
*Angelique Grobler (20) from The Bluff, Durban;
*Krystle Temmerman (20) from Amazimtoti, Durban;
*Balungile Wandji (Gumede) (28) from Umlazi, Durban;
*Badelisile Mthembu (21) from Morningside, Durban;
*Samkelisiwe Manjeya (28) from Glenhood, Durban;
*Wikus Botma (16) from Empangeni, Durban;
*Letitia Anderson (25) from Bloemfontein;
*Sarita (Lize’) Heerman (21) from Durban North; and
*Gary Nixon (21) from Scottsburgh, Durban.


Sunday, 1 February, saw the launch of the first episode of a brand new season of the show, in which viewers were treated to some of Cape Town’s best, worst and most eccentric entrants. After Durban, the judges move up to Johannesburg, where they have to sift out the gold nuggets from the rest of the rubbish. Catch all the auditions held around the country on Idols Extra, DStv Channel 198.

Idols is on M-Net every Sunday at 17:30, and Mondays at 19:00. For more information, visit the M-Net website at www.mnet.co.za.