+Australian Idol season 3 contestants (with dates of elimination) Contestant Elimination Kate DeAraugoWinner Emily WilliamsRunner-Up Lee Harding14 November Dan England7 November Daniel Spillane31 October Anne Robertson24 October James Kannis17 October Milly Edwards10 October Roxane LeBrasse3 October Laura Gissara26 September Natalie Zahra19 September Chris Luder12 September Tarni Stephens12 September The third season of Australian Idol debuted on 26 July 2005. The first of three semi-finals was held on 16 August 2005 with three of the Top 12 contenders announced the following night on 17 August 2005. 2Day FM radio host Kyle Sandilands replaced former judge Ian Dickson.
Overview For the first time in Australian Idol history, thirteen contestants instead of twelve, made it to the weekly finals rounds. As in past years, the Wildcard show would give a further three contestants a spot in the Top Twelve – two chosen by the judges and one by the Australian public. Following the "second-chance" wildcard performance show the previous night, on 5 September 2005, the judges choices were James Kannis and Emily Williams. The public choice was then revealed to be Daniel Spillane. However, it was also revealed a very marginal difference of less than 1% between the next highest voted contestant, Roxane LeBrasse, and the judges deciding that Roxane was too good to be left out of the Top 12, made it a Top 13. Unfortunately this would mean, the elimination of two people with the lowest votes, the following week.
The Grand Finale was held on 21 November 2005, with the winner being revealed as Kate DeAraugo. Kate had been outside chance to win through the duration of the season, but after the show ended, released a No. 1 single, "Maybe Tonight", a platinum selling album and a further Top 10 hit single through Sony BMG.
Runner up Emily Williams lost by 1% in the closest percentage ever in an Idol finale. She was originally signed to Sony BMG as a solo artist, but the agreement fell through and she ended up joining the girl band the Young Divas.
Lee Harding finished in third position and was signed to Sony BMG and released a # 1 single and a platinum selling album. His second single from his debut album proved to be less successful and in mid-2006 Harding was released from his contract with the label. He is currently touring and performing with his band Bedrock.
Dan England came 4th and didn't score a recording contract with a major label but recorded several independent releases and has toured with Season 2 winner Casey Donovan and Season 1 Runner-up Shannon Noll.
Anne Robertson who finished in sixth position was negotiating a deal with Sony BMG, but it was rumoured that Sony BMG was reluctant in signing her as they believed she was too similar to Season 1 contestant Paulini Curuenavuli who had been signed to the label for several years.
Other contestants from Season 3 have released numerous independent material and have toured and performed with several bands and music groups.
Winner Kate and runner-up Emily, later formed the all-girl group, Young Divas, with past Idol contestants Paulini Curuenavuli and Jessica Mauboy and previously, Ricki-Lee Coulter.
Ratings Although averaging around the 1.5 million viewer mark, ratings were down by up to 40% on average during the third season compared to the first two seasons, which regularly drew more than 2.5 million viewers during the latter half of the competition. This created a serious situation for Ten, which was airing three Australian Idol shows every week at the time, and forced them to give away free commercial airtime to program sponsors expecting higher ratings. Commentators has theorised over the reasons why this has occurred, ranging from the viewing public being tired of the format due to Sandilands replacing the popular Dickson. This would later bring about a major Idol revamp for Season 4 which led Season 4 being one of the highest rating seasons yet.
Semi-finals
Group 1
Daniel Spillane – "I Don't Want to Be" (Gavin DeGraw) Jade-Lori Crompton – "1 Thing" (Amerie) Lindsay West – "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper) Chloe Zuel – "Because of You" (Kelly Clarkson) Seth Haapu – "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" (Stevie Wonder)
Anne Robertson – "Home" (Stephanie Mills) Josh Williams – "All My Life" (K-Ci & JoJo) Irene Bosmans – "Turn the Beat Around" (Vicki Sue Robinson / Gloria Estefan) Chris Luder – "Beautiful Soul" (Jesse McCartney) Tarni Stephens – "Sweet Child o' Mine" (Guns N' Roses)
Advancing to the Top 12: Anne Robertson, Chris Luder and Tarni Stephens Wild Card Contenders: Daniel Spillane, Lindsay West, Chloe Zuel, Josh Williams, Irene Bosmans
Group 2
Milly Edwards – "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (Etta James) Ben Worthington – "Tell Her About It" (Billy Joel) Laura Gissara – "Don't Let Go (Love)" (En Vogue) Victoria McGee – "My Immortal" (Evanescence) David Mardini – "A Song for Mama" (Boyz II Men)
Roxane LeBrasse – "A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin) Kate DeAraugo – "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder) Michael Williamson – "I'll Be There" (The Jackson 5) Catherine Vasilakis – "Feeling Alright" (Joe Cocker) Rocky Loprevite – "Incomplete" (Backstreet Boys)
Advancing to the Top 12: Kate DeAraugo, Milly Edwards and Laura Gissara Wild Card Contenders: Roxane LeBrasse and Michael Williamson
Group 3
Nat Matiuk – "Light My Fire" (The Doors) Jeremy Bourke – "If You Could Only See" (Tonic) Lauren Street – "Simply the Best" (Tina Turner) Leah Rushforth – "Low" (Kelly Clarkson) Joe Sait – "Always" (Bon Jovi)
Natalie Zahra – "When You Believe" (Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston) Lee Harding – "The Anthem" (Good Charlotte) Dan England – "Try a Little Tenderness" (Otis Redding) Emily Williams – "Make It Happen" (Mariah Carey) James Kannis – "Change the World" (Eric Clapton)
Advancing to the Top 12: Dan England, Lee Harding and Natalie Zahra Wild Card Contenders: Lauren Street, Emily Williams and James Kannis
Wildcards
Chloe Zuel – "Come on Over" (Christina Aguilera) Lindsay West – "Bed of Roses" (Bon Jovi) Roxane LeBrasse – "All by Myself" (Eric Carmen) Michael Williamson – "Ready for Love" (India.Arie) Lauren Street – "The Lady Is a Tramp" (Frank Sinatra)
Josh Williams – "Lonely No More" (Rob Thomas) Irene Bosmans – "Greatest Love of All" (Whitney Houston) James Kannis – "Drift Away" (Dobie Gray) Emily Williams – "To Zion" (Lauryn Hill) Daniel Spillane – "Gimme Some Lovin'" (Spencer Davis Group)
Advancing to the Top 13: James Kannis, Emily Williams, Daniel Spillane and Roxane LeBrasse
Weekly Song Themes Date Week Theme 11 SeptemberTop 13Australian Made 18 SeptemberTop 11The '60s 25 SeptemberTop 10Rock 2 OctoberTop 9Contestant's Choice 9 OctoberTop 8Big Band 16 OctoberTop 7The '80s 23 OctoberTop 6Motown 30 OctoberTop 5The '70s 6 OctoberTop 4Elvis Presley 13 NovemberTop 3Number Ones
Top 13 – Australian Made OrderContestantSongResult1Kate DeAraugo"Please Don't Ask Me" by John FarnhamSafe2Dan England"Cryin' Shame" by Johnny DieselSafe3Lee Harding"Holy Grail" by Hunters & CollectorsSafe4Roxane LeBrasse"Forever Now" by Cold ChiselSafe5Anne Robertson"I Don't Want To Be With Nobody But You" by Absent FriendsSafe6Tarni Stephens"(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" by PowderfingerEliminated7Natalie Zahra"Absolutely Everybody" by Vanessa AmorosiSafe8Emily Williams"Buses and Trains" by Bachelor GirlSafe9Daniel Spillane"Tucker's Daughter" by Ian MossSafe10Chris Luder"Throw Your Arms Around Me" by Hunters & CollectorsEliminated11James Kannis"The Day You Went Away" by Wendy MatthewsSafe12Laura Gissara"You're My World" by Cilla Black / Daryl BraithwaiteSafe13Milly Edwards"Playing to Win" by John FarnhamBottom 3
The Top 13 Contestants
Kate DeAraugo
Anna Katherine "Kate" Jenna DeAraugo (born 5 November 1985), is an Australian singer, and was the winner of the third season of Australian Idol in 2005. Kate never scored a touchdown from judge Mark Holden, but was the only contestant from this series who was never actually in the bottom three or two. Kate released a platinum selling album and a number one single. She is also a member of the multi platinum selling group, Young Divas with Emily Williams, Paulini and Jessica Mauboy.
Audition: "Young Hearts Run Free" by Kym Mazelle Theatre Week (Round 1): Theatre Week (Round 3): "Finally" by CeCe Peniston Top 30: "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder Top 13: "Please Don't Ask Me" by John Farnham Top 11: "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass Top 10: "I Want It All" by Queen Top 9: "Not That Kind" by Anastacia Top 8: "Cry Me a River" by Patti Austin Top 7: "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Khan Up Close & Personal: "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette Top 6: "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder Top 5: "Lady Marmalade" by Patti LaBelle Top 4: "The Impossible Dream" and "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley Top 3: "Heaven" by Bryan Adams and "Like a Prayer" by Madonna Top 2: "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary, "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton, "Maybe Tonight" (winner's Single)
Emily Williams
Emily Williams (born 8 October 1984 in New Zealand), a former factory worker, was the runner-up and is a member of the band Young Divas. Emily was in the bottom three only once (the Top 7) and scored three touchdowns over the course of the season, from judge, Mark Holden.
Audition: "Rock with You" by Michael Jackson Theatre Week (Round 1): "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley Theatre Week (Round 3): "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys Top 30: "Make It Happen" by Mariah Carey Wildcards: "To Zion" by Lauryn Hill Top 13: "Buses and Trains" by Bachelor Girl Top 11: "RESPECT" by Aretha Franklin Top 10: "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen Top 9: "Hero" by Mariah Carey Top 8: "All The Way" by Frank Sinatra ~ TOUCHDOWN! Top 7: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston Bottom 2 Up Close & Personal: "How Come You Don't Call Me?" by Prince (Alicia Keys version) Top 6: "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner ~ TOUCHDOWN! Top 5: "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan ~ TOUCHDOWN! Top 4: "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley Top 3: "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears and "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton Top 2: "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson, "Emotion" by Destiny's Child / The Bee Gees, "Maybe Tonight" (winner's single)
Williams now lives in Melbourne with her partner and daughter. She released her debut solo single Spellbound independently on 1 November 2010.
Lee Harding
Lee Harding (born 8 June 1983), was placed third in the competition. From Frankston, Victoria, prior to Idol, he worked at the local AMC cinema multiplex.
Audition: "Better" by The Screaming Jets, "Let Me Entertain You" by Robbie Williams, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding & "Run to Paradise" by The Choirboys Theatre Week (Round 1): "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crowes Theatre Week (Round 3): "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins Top 30: "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte Top 13: "Holy Grail" by Hunters & Collectors Top 11: "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees Top 10: "Roxanne" by The Police Top 9: "Holiday" by Green Day Top 8: "Straighten Up and Fly Right" by Robbie Williams Top 7: "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor Up Close & Personal: "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots Top 6: "Ben" by Michael Jackson Top 5: "My Sharona" by The Knack Bottom 2 Top 4: "Teddy Bear" and "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley Top 3: "Faith" by George Michael (Limp Bizkit version), "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (The Living End version) Eliminated
Harding is the lead singer of his band, Bedrock.
Dan England