Australian Idol’s Marcia Hines answers critic Richard E Grant

From The Herald-Sun Online, October 21, 2008

CONTESTANTS on Aussie Idol always bring out the soft side of judge Marcia Hines, but she’s shown another side responding to criticism from mentor Richard E Grant.

She flew to the defence of her brood after comments ring-in mentor Grant made to Sydney Confidential last week.

Hines slammed the British actor, currently in Australia to play Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, for telling her charges Idol was likely to lead them into careers at KFC.

“That’s vicious. That’s totally vicious,” Hines said.

While Grant has received accolades for his career on stage and screen, Hines said he was in no position to comment on the Australian talent show.

“I don’t know who he is and I don’t really care who he is,” Hines said.

Last week Grant told Confidential he thought the show was “brutal”.

He also said he felt for the young talent from the show who often went nowhere after having their hopes raised so high.

“They get this instant fame and it can go away as instantly as it comes,” he said.

“I think the hardest thing is that the finalists get all this exposure but then usually go back to working at KFC or something.”

It’s not been all seen-once-and never-heard-from-again for all former Idol stars.

While none were up for any gongs at the country’s premier award night – the ARIAs on Sunday – that didn’t stop one former Idol runner-up from making a stunning appearance.

Jessica Mauboy, who two years ago lost out on first place in Idol to Damian Leith, was at the event following the success of her single Running Back with US rapper Flo Rida which has been in the top 10 ARIA charts for the past month.