The nationwide search for a singing super-star starts tonight! Australian Idol is back and already breaking records with thousands of hopefuls turning up to audition across the country. We'll show you the good, the bad and the very delusional in their quest to become the next Australian Idol. Featuring Marcia Hines, Mark Holden and newcomer Kyle Sandilands as the judges. Hosted by Andrew G and James Mathison.

The judges continue their journey to find Australia's next Australian Idol in Perth and Adelaide.

The judges travel to Sydney and Townsville on their quest to find the next Australian Idol.

The judges make their final stops for auditions to find the next Australian Idol.

This showed the first and second day of the top 125 in Sydney being cut down by over half.

Third and final day of the pre finals in Sydney. To judges go one-on-one with all the remaining contestants to find the top 24.

The first group of six boys perform.

The verdict for the first group of six boys followed by the performances of the first group of six girls.

The verdict for the first group of girls followed by the performances of the second group of six boys.

This show begins with the verdict for the second group of six boys followed big erformances of the last group of six girls.

The verdict for the final group and the announcement of the wildcard contestants.

The Wildcards perform for the final four positions in the Top 12 of Australian Idol 2006.

The final four positions in the Top 12 are announced.

The 2006 Final 12 battle it out for a place in Australia's hearts in the first finals this year. This week, it's the Idols choice as to what song they perform.

Australia says a teary-eyed goodbye to Joseph Gatehau, who is the first finalist to leave the show in 2006.

The Final 11 contestants perform a song from the Rock genre.

Another finalist must leave the competition.

Tonight the contestants perform a song that was number one on the Australian music charts.

Another finalist must leave the competition.

Tonight the contestants perform songs from the year in which they were born.

Time for the Verdict for the final 9 contestants.

Tonight the contestants peform a song form the Disco genre.

Another finalist must leave the competition.

In a world first for Idol, contestants are given the choice to play an instrument during thier performance.

Another finalist must leave the competition.