Season 17 premiered on Sunday 11 July 2021 with guest judge Prince KayBee joining the Idols SA judges, Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Nkayi for the first judges’ auditions. The show’s host and co-executive producer, Proverb was also present to ensure that the contestants gave us feedback about their auditions.
Linathi was the first aspirant to take centre stage. Through her beautiful audition, the show was off to a great start. We got the first four yeses and first Golden Ticket of the season!
Golden Tickets were dished out and more contestants marked a spot for themselves to attend Theatre Week.
After some positive auditions, things started to take a different turn.
John, who claimed to come from two musical families, discovered that the gift of singing skipped him. He failed to make the Golden Ticket gate to open for him. He was the first contestant who did not make the cut.
It surely would not have been a complete show without Somgaga dishing out words from his personal and unique dictionary. He used unfamiliar words such a "phelled" or "bedanger".
There was also 30-year-old Berry, who is a second-time-lucky contestant. She made it to the top 30 ten years ago, and wants to go far this year. Her rendition of 'Never Enough' from The Greatest Showman was declared the performance of the day by the judges.
Guest judge Prince Kaybee said, "You are the most experienced performer of the day."
The last performer of the day, the fabulous-with-attitude Agel-Ho, did not get a Golden Ticket but still ended the day on a high.
However, 20 Idols SA hopefuls got Golden Tickets on Day 1 and they are ready for Theatre Week!
Catch Idols SA next week in the presence of the gospel maestro Ntokozo Mbambo, who will serenade the judges and audience in-between as our guest judge.
Season 17 of Idols SA broadcasts on Sundays at 17:30 on Mzansi Magic Channel 161, and at 17:00 from the live shows. Get exclusive updates and a behind the scenes look at all the action right here on our site. Don't forget to join the conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #IdolsSA.