She is set to make her long-awaited return to the Australian Idol judging panel.
And Marcia Hines revealed why she'll be taking a friendly approach to giving participants feedback this year.
Speaking to Stellar magazine, the 70-year-old pop icon said it was actually easier to be kind on the show because evil behavior requires more thought.
“It’s so hard to be evil.” [because] “You have to really think about what you're going to say and how you're going to put those words together and hope that they destroy the person,” she reflected.
She then warned her fellow judges, ARIA winner Amy Shark and radio king Kyle Sandilands, why she advises a gentler approach to criticism.
'Why do you want to go there? And then it takes forever to rewind and fix the problem. Words spoken in anger cannot be taken back. So be careful what you say,” she explained.
Marcia Hines, 70, has warned her Australian Idol colleagues not to give contestants “bad” feedback. LR: Kyle Sandilands, Marcia Hines, Amy Shark
Marcia appeared as a guest judge last season, but this year her role was upgraded.
She was on the original Australian Idol judging panel alongside record executive Ian “Dicko” Dickson and singer Mark Holden before leaving the show in 2009.
Meanwhile, fellow judges Harry Connick Jr. and Meghan Trainor will not be returning, leaving the jury with one less person.
![“It’s so hard to be evil.” [because] “You have to really think about what you want to say and how you put those words together and hope that they destroy the person,” she told Stellar magazine this weekend](https://www.spamchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Marcia-Hines-warns-fellow-Australian-Idol-judges-not-to-give.jpg "Marcia Hines warns fellow Australian Idol judges not to give contestants “nasty” feedback: “Be careful what you say.” 4")
“It’s so hard to be evil.” [because] “You have to really think about what you want to say and how you put those words together and hope that they destroy the person,” she told Stellar magazine this weekend
An insider told Yahoo that part of the reason for revamping the series was to ensure that next year's season would focus more on the music than the behind-the-scenes drama.
“There are too many singing shows where the judges distract from the contestants and this year they want the talent to be the focus,” they said.
“Last year, Kyle and Harry’s feud often overshadowed performances.”
Also back are Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie, who are back as official hosts.
The next edition of the hit singing competition premieres on Monday, January 29, 2024 – exactly two decades after Guy Sebastian made history by winning the inaugural season.
The new season of Australian Idol premieres on Monday, January 29, 2024
Kyle had a long-running feud with Connick Jr. after the two appeared together as judges on the final season of Australian Idol. (Pictured include Kyle, Meghan Trainor, Amy Shark and Harry from Idols 2023 jury)
Kyle Sandiland's Meghan Trainor