Royston Sagigi-Baira has won the 2023 season of Australian Idol after the public votes were tallied during Sunday night’s grand final.
The winner will take home $100,000 in prize money and a record deal with Sony Music, as well as a trip to the US to work with industry leaders.
“I just want to say thank you,” a tearful Royston said after the announcement was made.
“Thank you to everyone who voted for me. Thank you to all this mob up here, all my family and friends,” he continued.
‘All who voted. I don’t know what else to say. Thanks very much!’ he added.
Royston Sagigi-Baira (pictured) has won Australian Idol’s 2023 season after the public votes were tallied during Sunday night’s grand final
Royston had kind words for runner-up Phoebe Stewart, saying she was like a sister to him that she had a “big career” ahead of her.
He then performed his winning single Invincible but was plagued by audio problems and looked confused as he mumbled some of the lyrics during a shaky start.
Royston looked stunned as he mumbled, “What?” and tapped his ear, indicating he couldn’t hear clearly.
Despite the early fumble, Royston managed to recover and launched into the track with enthusiasm after the first stanza.
It was an exciting showdown between the three finalists Royston Sagigi-Baira, 23, Phoebe Stewart, 15, and Josh Hannan, 20.
“I just want to say thank you,” a tearful Royston said after the announcement was made
Royston had kind words for runner-up Phoebe Stewart (left), saying she was like a sister to him that she had a “big career” ahead of her
Josh was knocked out of contention in third place, leaving Phoebe and Royston vying for the crown.
When asked who he would be excited to play on tomorrow’s KIIS FM radio show, judge Kyle Sandilands shocked viewers with his derogatory comments.
“Whoever wins is going to have the record… I’ll never hear from the other one again,” he said to audible gasps from the studio audience.
“Well, I’m just saying,” he shrugged, before adding that he’ll try to “keep in touch” with the runner-up.
When asked who he would be excited to play on tomorrow’s KIIS FM radio show, judge Kyle Sandilands (pictured) shocked viewers with his derogatory comments
“Whoever wins is going to have the record… I’ll never hear from the other one again,” he said to audible gasps from the studio audience
Host Ricki-Lee Coulter desperately tried to change the subject, laughing nervously and asking judge Meghan Trainor to “help” her.
The finale was riddled with problems, from Royston’s final performance to Kyle’s comments and a literal trip from Phoebe.
The teenager stumbled as the winners were announced, stumbled and fell as she approached the hosts for the final decision.
“Good role models don’t do that, boys. That’s not a good example. Go on,” she said awkwardly before the show continued.
The Australian Idol reboot was a spectacular flop for Channel Seven as the show struggled in the ratings battle.
The singer then performed his winner’s single, Invincible, but was plagued by audio issues and looked confused as he mumbled some of the lyrics during a shaky start
Royston looked stunned as he mumbled, “What?” and tapped his ear, indicating he couldn’t hear clearly
Channel Seven’s ambitious attempt to take on Married At First Sight with a revamped Australian Idol has proved a disappointment.
The show not only trailed behind MAFS, but struggled to stay ahead of Channel 10’s Survivor in the primetime ratings shootout.
In February, MAFS averaged about 810,000 overnight viewers in the five-city metro markets and 1.8 million total TV counts—adjusted for delayed watch counts and streaming views.
Australian Survivor is second with around 450,000 Tube viewers (around 760,000 total TV viewers), while Idol – armed with its expensive judging panel and enormous production costs – had a Tube average of around 400,000 and a Total TV average of 800,000 viewers .