Idle journalism just the key

With the return of Australian Idol this Sunday, Ricki-Lee Coulter adds “TV Presenter” to her CV.

She’s managed to keep in the public eye despite being famously booted from the show in 2004. Not a bad feat considering there are Idol winners whose names you could struggle to remember.

Coulter will be backstage grabbing quotes from contestants as they leave the stage, working with them through rehearsals, song-choice, publicity appearances and adding that personal perspective once showcased on Inside Idol. But the difference this time is that there will be elements of her reporting that are live to air.

A no-fuss Ricki-Lee told TV Tonight she was coming to terms with being thrown in the deep end of TV presentation.

“I’m not Anna Coren, it’s not hard-core journalism!” she said. “Seriously, I’m just having conversations with these guys and just helping the public understand what’s going on in their heads and what they’re experiencing.”

That shoot-from-the-hip style is no doubt, part of her charm. The role is also quite a turn around for one who is normally on the other side of the red carpet.

“It’s really exciting because normally every day of my life I’ve got interviews and people asking me a million questions. It’s strange being the person asking them the questions.”

At her first day of auditions, Ricki-Lee admits she was nervous.

“I was wetting myself!” she laughed. “I was so nervous thinking ‘oh my god, what do I ask them? How do I approach this? What happens if this happens?’ I was freaking out.

“But the producers have been amazing. Andrew (G.) and James (Mathison) have been a massive, massive support. I just have to be myself and they’ve just said, ‘you just be you and relate to them on the level you know. You know this back to front. You know what it’s like, just go with that.’”

Australian Idol premieres 7:30pm Sunday on TEN.