Paulini wants to be a judge on the Australian Idol reboot: 'Bring it on!’

Paulini has had quite a strong TV presence in recent years, appearing as a contestant on both The Masked Singer and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, as well as competing in Eurovision - Australia Decides later this month.

And while the powerhouse vocalist says she feels “very content” with her achievements thus far, there’s one opportunity she’d love to partake in: The upcoming reboot of Australian Idol.

The singing competition, which aired from 2003 to 2009 and kickstarted Paulini’s career when she came in fourth place in season one, is set to return to screens later this year on Channel Seven.

“I would love to be a judge on Australian Idol,” she admits to Yahoo Lifestyle.

“I feel like I'm very connected to the show, not because I was in it, but because that was the start and really set me up and now I'm singing full time. I have become an artist in my own right and I love that Australian Idol gave me that opportunity, it really did give me the stage to showcase my talent.

“And everyone else from my season, there’s been a lot of us that are still around and I'm so proud of that, I really am.”

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Not only did she make her mark on the reality TV show through her incredible performances and vocal abilities, but Paulini is also widely remembered for being heavily criticised by judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickinson over her now-infamous gold dress - something she says she would never do to another contestant.

“I’d love to give my thoughts on different performances. I probably wouldn't do what Dicko did to me, but I'd be very sympathetic and compassionate,” she adds with a laugh.

“But I'd love to be a part of it, even like a vocal coach, I'd love to do that. Bring it on!”

Speaking about her own journey on Idol, which she describes as “one of the best shows” she’s ever seen on TV, the We Are One hitmaker says she still has plenty of fond memories from the experience 19 years ago.

“I remember when I was about to audition for it and watching Kelly Clarkson in American Idol,” she recalls.

“I was like, oh my god. I just love the structure of the show, I think it really focuses on the talent. I’d love that opportunity to be a coach or a judge, that would be awesome.”

Channel Seven first announced in October 2020 that they would be reviving Australian Idol after more than a decade off-air.

Angus Ross, Seven’s Director of Programming, said in a statement: “Idol is the granddaddy of them all! The biggest show in the world comes to Seven in 2022, and we know Australians are going to love it.”

The network is planning on filming the show ‘live’ rather than being pre-recorded like The Voice and Big Brother, and hopes to air later this year.

Stream Paulini’s new single, We Are One, on all streaming platforms here.

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