TV
Contestant disqualified after radio interview
Published Monday, Aug 25 2003, 22:06 BST | By Neil Wilkes
Anthony Sumbati has been disqualified from Australian Idol after breaking a key rule of his contract.
Sumbati, 25, performed with the rest of group three yesterday evening and was due to hear whether he had made it through to the top ten today.
Earlier this morning, however, he had an interview with Sydney radio station Mix without approval from the show's producers. Rules state that the contestants are not allowed to engage in self-promotion, especially during the voting period as it could give them an unfair advantage over the others.
"It was unfortunate, but the producers had no choice but to eliminate him from the competition," explained host James Mathison.
Judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson had earlier broken the news to Sumbati, who protested that he didn't intend to break the rules.
"There's no intention, no malice, there's nothing," he said. "I can't say anything. All I've done is try to get out there and give it the best shot I have. I mean I don't have the greatest voice, but I'm just trying to basically be myself."
All three judges expressed their disappointment at having to lose him from the competition but agreed that it was the most fair thing to do.
Sumbati, 25, performed with the rest of group three yesterday evening and was due to hear whether he had made it through to the top ten today.
Earlier this morning, however, he had an interview with Sydney radio station Mix without approval from the show's producers. Rules state that the contestants are not allowed to engage in self-promotion, especially during the voting period as it could give them an unfair advantage over the others.
"It was unfortunate, but the producers had no choice but to eliminate him from the competition," explained host James Mathison.
Judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson had earlier broken the news to Sumbati, who protested that he didn't intend to break the rules.
"There's no intention, no malice, there's nothing," he said. "I can't say anything. All I've done is try to get out there and give it the best shot I have. I mean I don't have the greatest voice, but I'm just trying to basically be myself."
All three judges expressed their disappointment at having to lose him from the competition but agreed that it was the most fair thing to do.
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