Gallery: Idol on show

The Top 12 Australian Idol contestants for 2009 sang for their supper at an invite-only showcase in Sydney last night.

TEN hosted the event with Andrew Gunsberg introducing the 12 contestants, each of whom sang one of their best  party pieces.

Watching on were media, industry, network execs and TEN personalities including Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan. Entertainment reporter Angela Bishop was one of several screen, print, radio media chatting to the Idols. Rocker Suzi Quatro, who is a guest judge this weekend, also stopped by.

In an intimate live environment, the 12 certainly sang well, possibly better than they have on television. Judges Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, Marcia Hines and Jay Dee Springbett watched on as the new kids on the block were all thrown to the hungry media.

17yo Hayley Warner told TV Tonight it had been a hectic time so far.

“It’s been long days and really hard work, but we are just lovin’ it,” she said. “absolutely lovin’ it.”

“I’m in a band previous to this, just singing around Sydney, Canberra, that sort of thing. I love Pop Rock like P!nk, Paramore, Foo Fighters.”

Warner says she isn’t too fazed at the idea of the show’s theme nights.

“I can’t wait for theme nights, bring it on. You do something different and step out of your comfort zone, I guess. If you take everything with a grain of salt it’s going to be awesome, but if you try to make it bigger than Ben Hur it’s not going to work out.”

She is already getting used to the media attention, performing for the cameras, giving bite-size quotes and maintaining a down to earth demeanour while trying to please the press.

“I’m blown away by it. There’s all these people here asking questions, and it’s weird that they want to talk to me because I’m just a schoolgirl. I work in a surf shop, I’m not anything special.

“But tonight we’re made to feel quite cool!”