In the wake of Kyle and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s split, it seems like we’re not just hearing silence from Kyle on the airwaves, but also seeing his absence on our screens, most notably, Australian Idol.
Kyle has now missed five episodes of the popular singing competition and has been absent from aired episodes since Sunday night, March 1.
Luckily for us, Jessica Mauboy, the show’s 2006 runner-up, has stepped up to take his place like the legend she is!
However, questions are still circulating about Kyle’s absence and what this means for the remainder of the season.
How long has Kyle been missing from Australian Idol?
It’s believed that Australian Idol’s ‘live’ shows (that decide the season’s top 21 contestants) were filmed in a block on the evening of February 20, despite being aired on Monday and Tuesday this week, on March 2 and 3.
This explains Kyle’s absence from filming as February 20 marks the day of Kyle and Jackie O’s radio-show-ending fight on air, where Kyle ripped into Jackie O for her interest in the birth chart of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
While it’s assumed that Kyle has missed around three days of filming, this has totalled to five episodes on air where Jess Mauboy has graced our screens instead.
On the first episode of his absence, Episode 3: Audition, the show’s hosts Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie informed contestants that Kyle would be absent, but did not provide any extra explanation from there.
This goes for Channel 7 as well, as there has been no comment about Kyle’s absence from the broadcaster.
In response to this ambiguity, TV Tonight media commentator David Knox called it “disappointing.”
While the TV personality noted that “if you’re sick, you’re sick,” he also went on to point out that “the show’s most reliable judges also tell crook singers they have to push through illness because audiences have usually paid good money and don’t care about things like sore throats.”
Big swing from David.
Who has replaced Kyle on Australian Idol?
Do not fear! Jessica Mauboy is here (and we hope she stays)!
This singer-songwriter, actress, and Kuku Yalanji and Wakaman woman from Darwin has swooped in to save the day, sitting alongside the other judges Marcia Hines and Amy Shark.
While many fans are speculating whether Jess will become Kyle’s permanent replacement (I mean, she has the experience!), other speculated Guy Sebastian could be up for the job – another clear choice given his rise to fame through Australian Idol’s first season.
What happened to Kyle and Jackie O?
On March 3, it was confirmed that the KIIS radio show Kyle and Jackie O was over for good.
As there are talks of Jackie being offered a position on a new show while Kyle has 14 days “to remedy a serious breach of contract in respect of the show”, as noted in a statement by ARN Media Limited, it appears that righting his wrongs has left him unable to turn up to any recent filming for Australian Idol.
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