‘Idols SA’ is back, with the razzmatazz of new judge Somizi

Following last season’s massive success – with a record-breaking 24 million votes being cast – ‘Idols SA’ returned to M-Net (channel 101) and Mzansi Magic (channel 161) on Sunday at 16h00.

This season, all the episodes will be two hours long, and the producers have hit the refresh button by adding a fourth member to the judging panel.

Flamboyant entertainer and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo joins Randall Abrahams, Unathi Msengana and Gareth Cliff in the search for South Africa’s next singing sensation.

“By now, we all know what to expect from our esteemed judges: Randall will be his nit-picking, brutally honest self; Gareth will fire off witty remarks; and Unathi is bound to shed some tears. So the big question now is how Somizi will perform his judging duties,” says M-Net’s head of publicity, Lani Lombard.

“Prepare yourself for the highest level of energy, Somizi’s trademark pizazz and all kinds of spontaneous moves. But he will also impress with his practical music know­ledge and deep insight into the world of showbiz.”

In Sunday’s first episode, we saw Somizi make his first appearance at the State Theatre in Pretoria, where the countrywide auditions for ‘Idols SA’ 11th season kicked off.

While the two hour long show on M-Net and Mzansi Magic features some of the best – and worst – singers who eagerly await the judges’ comments, all the auditions are once again being played on the Idols SA Extra channel, channel 199 on DStv, from the time the show’s end credits roll.

In the next episode, we see the auditions move to GrandWest Casino and World of Entertainment in Cape Town and the following two episodes will feature the good, bad – and ugly – at The Playhouse Theatre in Durban and Carnival City on the East of Johannesburg.

The lucky few who receive a precious Golden Ticket will then face the music again at the gruelling Theatre Week before the Top 16 will sing for the voting public.

For the latest information on ‘Idols SA’, go to www.mnet.co.za/idolssa, follow on Twitter @IdolsSA, like the official Idols Facebook page at ‘Idols South Africa’, or log on to www.dstv.com.

– MultiChoice Namibia

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