Former Australian Idol host James Mathison has opened up on his time on the TV show, revealing that there were two major aspects of the program that contributed to his decision to walk away in 2009.
Appearing on the You've Gotta Start Somewhere podcast (as reported by news.com.au), the TV presenter, who co-hosted Australian Idol with fellow then-Channel [V] presenter Osher Günsberg from 2003, spoke candidly about his gripes.
"The two things that always stuck in my claw (sic) and I was never able to sit comfortably with was what happened to the kids afterwards," Mathison said.
"They'd get record deals but the ones that weren't clearly going to make money were quickly like, 'OK, See ya, bye', rather than, 'Let's find them songwriting partners, let's make sure they can flourish by supporting them'. That didn't happen a lot, to be honest.
"Also, I was never really comfortable with those early audition rounds on Australian Idol where kids would come in who didn't know how terrible they were.
"Producers knew how terrible they were, put them in front of the judges knowing that they were going to get mocked and ridiculed by the judges and then by people at home… and the kids weren't in on it."
Though contestants of the show signed disclaimers and were told all footage could be used, Mathison suggested they were "being set up".
"We would have producers who would be like, 'This kid is going to be television gold!' But you also knew that the next day after that show aired (the contestant) would be humiliated and ridiculed and their life would be difficult for a little while after that."
Mathison has since fronted now-defunct Channel Ten breakfast show, Wake Up, and last year made the switch to politics where he ran for the seat of Warringah in the federal election against Tony Abbott.
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