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Season guide

Australian Idol: Season 1

44 episodes Premiered Jul 27, 2003 Updated Jul 22, 2026

The first season of the Australian singing competition Australian Idol premiered in July 2003. Produced by the Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with the United Kingdom company 19TV, the series was broadcast on Network Ten. The inaugural season spanned a duration of 19 weeks during the latter half of 2003. The judging panel for this season consisted of Mark Holden, Marcia Hines, and Ian Dick

Season overview

The first season of the Australian singing competition Australian Idol premiered in July 2003. Produced by the Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with the United Kingdom company 19TV, the series was broadcast on Network Ten. The inaugural season spanned a duration of 19 weeks during the latter half of 2003. The judging panel for this season consisted of Mark Holden, Marcia Hines, and Ian Dickson, who was also known as Dicko. This season marked the beginning of the program, which continued its original run on television until November 2009. The show is classified as a reality series and holds a PG rating. As an archival record of the production, these details confirm the organizational structure and the primary personnel involved in the launch of the competition. All information regarding the production companies, the broadcast network, the judging panel, and the timeline of the first season is derived from official records associated with the series.

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Episodes

S1·E1

The Premiere

Jul 27, 2003

In the premiere of Australin Idol, we saw the best and worst auditions with Mark, Marcia and Dicko in major cities around Australia. The picked 75 auditioners with talent to move o

S1·E2

From The Top 75 to the Top 40

Aug 3, 2003

The top 75 from the auditions are divided into three groups were they have to perform in their groups a dedicated song. After three days of practise, each group showed their skills

S1·E3

The Top 40

Aug 4, 2003

Time to meet the Top 40 semi-finalists. Become familiar with these faces as in a few short weeks, the public will begin voting for who they believe should be the first 'Australian

S1·E5

Semi Finals: Group 1 Verdict

Aug 11, 2003

We find out the first two contestant's voted by the Australian public to be in the final 12. They are Peter and Daniel!

S1·E6

Semi Finals: Group 2 Perform

Aug 17, 2003

The second Semi-Finals show! See 10 of the top 40 contestants perform to win the viewers vote! Who will you vote for?

S1·E7

Semi Finals: Group 2 Verdict

Aug 18, 2003

The top two performers, from the previous episode are Matt Chadwick and Kelly Cavuoto voted in by the Australian public to be in the fianl 12.

S1·E8

Semi Finals: Group 3 Perform

Aug 24, 2003

The third group of eight semi-finalists give it their all to have one of two positions to be in the final 12.

S1·E9

Semi Finals: Group 3 Verdict

Aug 25, 2003

Which two out of the last episode's performers: Anthony, Yolande, Shannon, Rebekah, Guy, Martine, Ryan and Jennifer have been voted by the Australian public to join the top 12? Fin

S1·E10

The Bad, The Mad and The Ugly

Aug 26, 2003

Today you meet some of the interesting, strange and just plain bad, auditions in this one-off special showcasing some fine and not so fine auditions!

S1·E11

Semi Finals: Group 4 Perform

Aug 31, 2003

It's down to the second-last semi-finals with another 8 contestants battling for a spot in the top 10!

S1·E12

Semi Finals: Group 4 Verdict

Sep 1, 2003

The fourth live verdict show where the viewers have decided out of the previous night's eight performers (Mary, Michelle, Costa, Brielle, Levi, Cle, Brandon and Lauren) which two a

S1·E13

Semi Finals: Group 5 Perform

Sep 7, 2003

The last group of eight top 40 contestants perform to win their spot in the top 10. Who will be the final two? It's all up to the Australian public.

S1·E14

Semi Finals: Group 5 Verdict

Sep 8, 2003

Who out of the last semi-finals will be going through to the finals? Australia has voted for either Alex, Anton, Ben, Marcus, Paulini, Robert, Courtney or Stu. Find out which of th

S1·E15

Wildcard: Judge's Choice

Sep 14, 2003

The judges have decided on 10 contestants to recieve a second-chance to make it to the finals! Two people will be selected - one by the judges and one by the Australian voting publ

S1·E16

Wildcard: Live Verdict

Sep 15, 2003

Based on the performances in the previous episode, The 10 wildcards will fight for the two positions left in the finals! The judges will choose one person, while the viewers will c

S1·E17

Performance 1: The 70's

Sep 21, 2003

Watch as the top 12 perform hits from the in their first live performance on a new stage!

S1·E18

Performance 1: Verdict

Sep 22, 2003

Two people will have their 'Idol' run come to an end tonight with the result of the public vote to be announced.

S1·E19

Inside Idol #1

Sep 25, 2003

Take a look as to what its like to be an 'Australian Idol' finalist. This is the first week with the 12 finalists.

S1·E21

Performance 2: Verdict

Sep 29, 2003

Who from the top 10 will survive to be in the Top Eight? Find out tonight!

S1·E22

Inside Idol #2

Oct 2, 2003

This week covers the 'eviction' of Cle and Lauren and their Melbourne performance at the MCG.

S1·E23

Performance 3: Aussie Made

Oct 5, 2003

Watch the top 8 perform songs from Aussie artists in front of a live audience! What will the judges say this week?

S1·E24

Performance 3: Verdict

Oct 6, 2003

Who's performance of an Australian artist has gotten them through to the top six?

S1·E25

Inside Idol #3

Oct 9, 2003

What's the week been like for the finalists since the departure of Kelly and Rebekah? Find out in this 'behind the scenes' episode.

S1·E26

Performance 4: The 80's

Oct 12, 2003

Remember the great music from the ? Well, the six finalists are here to jog your memory!

S1·E27

Performance 4: Verdict

Oct 13, 2003

Who rocked the 80's the most? Find out in tonight's live verdict!

S1·E28

Up Close & Personal

Oct 14, 2003

Five contestants, many questions, live performances with a 20 piece orchestra - how more close can you get? This is a special, one-off event.

S1·E29

Inside Idol #4

Oct 16, 2003

Go behind the scenes of 'that comment' by Mark Holden to Levi, more workout sessions and Paulini's 21st birthday.

S1·E30

Performance 5: R&B/Soul

Oct 19, 2003

The five remaining Idols are singing the blues, rhythem and blues that is! A very special guest star, international R&B star Usher will be guesting on this episode.

S1·E32

Inside Idol #5

Oct 23, 2003

Find out what the final contestants have bee up to in their house.

S1·E33

Performance 6: Big Band

Oct 26, 2003

How will the final four Idol contestants go when they sing with a 'Big Band'?

S1·E34

Performance 6: Verdict

Oct 27, 2003

Which performer earnt the BIG votes from their BIG Band performance? And who will be leaving the group tonight, leaving the numbers down to three!

S1·E35

Inside Idol #6

Oct 30, 2003

Watch this edition of Inside Idol to see how the contestants coped with Paulini leaving the competition, picking songs for the 60's show and see Mark Holden sing at his old high sc

S1·E36

Performance 7: The 60's

Nov 2, 2003

Groovy baby! Watch as the three finalists: Guy, Shannon and Cosima battle it out in this 60's special!

S1·E37

Performance 7: Verdcict

Nov 3, 2003

Who wowed the audience and recieved the most votes from their 60's performances the night before? Is the last night for Cosima, Guy or Shannon?

S1·E38

Inside Idol #7

Nov 6, 2003

Find out what the final 3 have been up to in their house.

S1·E39

Performance 8: Contestants Choice

Nov 9, 2003

As the competition is drawing to an end, the two remaining contestants, Guy and Shannon, perform to a crowd without comments from the judges!

S1·E40

Quentin Crashes Australian Idol

Nov 10, 2003

This special shows Quentin, a personality in Australia, very persistent in trying to be an Australian Idol contestant! Go behind the scenes with Quentin in his quest to get on the

S1·E41

Live Performance 8: Contestants Choice (Encore)

Nov 13, 2003

If you missed Sunday's fantastic episode, here is your chance to catch up. This is an encore showing of Shannon and Guy's performances of their own choice of song, plus their versi

S1·E42

Showdown Tour

Nov 16, 2003

Join Shannon and Guy as they do 5 states in 4 days on the BMG Showdown Tour! Follow their adventures of the past week!

S1·E43

Grand Finale

Nov 19, 2003

It's come down to this - the grand finale which will announce the winner of the first Australian Idol!!! Who will it be in this two hour finale including performances by the other

S1·E44

The Winner's Journey

Nov 23, 2003

Now that we have our Australian Idol, take a trip of the last six months of Guy's amazing journey to make it to the top!