Anthony Callea says the Australian Idol reboot should stick to the original format

He rose to fame as the runner-up in the 2004 season of Australian Idol.

And on Friday, Anthony Callea, 37, warned producers that the upcoming revival of the show will only be successful if it stays true to the original format.

‘I really hope that they honestly keep that backbone and that essence to the show and they don’t try to make it something that’s it’s not,’ he told the Herald Sun.

‘Why try to change something that’s not broken? The show was rating two million plus each and every Sunday.’

Anthony went on to say the singing show, which originally aired on Channel 10, was an ‘amazing platform’ for singers.

He added: ‘It created a new path into entertainment and into the music industry and it’s established so many sustainable artists that are still working to this day.’

It was confirmed in October that Australian Idol will returning to television after 12 years as part of Channel Seven’s 2022 prime time line-up.

The talent show is famous for discovering a string of top-selling artists, including Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Casey Donovan, Matt Corby and Ricki-Lee Coulter. 

Australian Idol is a Fremantle and Eureka co-production for the Seven Network and will premiere on Channel Seven and 7plus in 2022.

Based on the global Pop Idol format – the most-watched TV franchise in history – Australian Idol aired from 2003 to 2009 on Channel 10.

It was hosted by Osher Günsberg and James Mathison from 2003 to 2007, before former contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter joined them in 2008.

The following year, James left the show and it was hosted by Osher and Ricki-Lee.