Idol (franchise)

Idol (also known as SuperStar in some countries), commonly known as Idols, is a reality television singing competition format created by British television producer Simon Fuller and developed by Fremantle. The format began in 2001 with the British television series Pop Idol; its first adaptation was the South African series Idols in 2002. It has since become the world's most widely watched television franchise, as well as one of the most successful entertainment formats, adapted in over 56 regions around the world, with its various versions broadcast to 150 countries with a worldwide audience of roughly 3.2 billion people. The franchise has generated more than in revenue.

Each season, the series aims to find the most outstanding unsigned solo recording artist (or "idol") in a region. Originally aimed for pop singers, the series has since evolved to accept singers from different genres of music, such as rock, R&B, and country. Through a series of mass auditions, a group of finalists are selected by a panel of judges (which usually consists of artists and record producers) who offer critiques on their performances. The finalists then advance to the weekly live shows. On each live show, the contestants all sing, the television audience votes (by telephone, SMS Internet, and via apps), and then the contestant who receives the fewest votes gets eliminated. The final episode is the grand finale episode, when usually two, but sometimes three or four, finalists are left, and the contestant who gets the largest number of votes is declared the winner. The winner receives a recording contract, monetary prizes, and a title as their nation's "Idol", "SuperStar" or "Star". Sometimes one or more of the runners-up get recording contracts as well.

The various series have launched the careers of a number of highly successful recording artists around the world, including Idol winners Will Young of the United Kingdom, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, David Cook, and Phillip Phillips of the United States, Kurt Nilsen of Norway, Ryan Malcolm and Kalan Porter of Canada, Guy Sebastian of Australia, and Elvis Blue of South Africa. Contestants who did not win but have still gone on to prominence include Anthony Callea, Ricki-Lee Coulter and Jessica Mauboy of Australia, Loreen and Måns Zelmerlöw of Sweden, Jacob Hoggard and Carly Rae Jepsen of Canada, and Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry, Gabby Barrett, Lauren Alaina, and Adam Lambert of the United States, among many others. Some Idol contestants have also achieved success in acting and musical theater such as Melissa O'Neil of Canada, and most notably EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson of American Idol.

Origin and background

In 2001, British talent manager and television producer Simon Fuller created the British television series Pop Idol. The series was developed by production company Fremantle and was broadcast on ITV on 6 October 2001. Fuller, along with television producer Nigel Lythgoe, was inspired to create the series by the New Zealand television series Popstars, which was adopted in the United Kingdom as Popstars in January 2001. The first series of Pop Idol proved to be more popular than Popstars, in part due to the chemistry of the judges and the success of its first winner Will Young.

Pop Idols success led to an interest for adaptations in other countries. Before selling the format, Fuller reached out for an out-of-court settlement with Popstars creator Jonathan Dowling, in which international versions of Idols will be prohibited to use the prefix Pop in their local titles. As such, South Africa was the first international adaptation under the official franchise name - Idols. Idols was first televised on 10 March 2002, one month after the first series of Pop Idol ended.

Fuller, Lythgoe, and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell attempted to sell the format in the United States in 2001, but the idea was met with poor response from major networks. Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, persuaded her father to buy the rights for an American adaptation. The series, American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, debuted on the Fox network on 11 June 2002. American Idol went on to become the all-time most dominant show in the U.S. TV ratings, due to the popularity of the judges (particularly Simon Cowell) and its contestants, which were led by its first winner, Kelly Clarkson.

The success brought by American Idol led to even more adaptations in other countries, where the Dutch Idols became the top television series in the Netherlands during its airing.

There has been a global version of the franchise, called World Idol. The show was a television special, where winners of national Idol shows will compete against each other. The special was won by Kurt Nilsen, a singer from Norway. A current World version of Idol acts as a YouTube channel, called Idols Global. The channel uploads clips of Idol shows from around the world. The channel currently has over 1 million subscribers. There are many more channels like this. Additionally, many individual Idol shows have their own YouTube channels.

Concept

The show is a reality television singing competition where the winner is selected by the audience voting. The show combines a number of elements previously used by other shows such as Popstars – mass auditioning, the search of a new star, and the use of a judging panel that critiques the auditioners' performance and selects the contestants. An important element is audience participation, where the audience may vote by telephone or text to decide which contestant can proceed further each week and ultimately win. According to the show creator, Simon Fuller, "the interactivity was important because this would allow the audience to tell me who they liked best and this, in turn, would indicate to me who would have the most fans and eventually sell the most music and become the biggest stars." To this is added "the drama of backstories and the real-life soap opera of the unfolding real-time events" as the show is presented as a live competition event which drew "more from a sporting concept of true competition".

Media/sponsorship

Sony Music is the general record company associated and affiliated with the Idols format in most countries, though countries like Iceland, Vietnam and Kazakhstan have affiliate labels as they do not have a local Sony Music subsidiary. FremantleMedia and Sony Music were related through common parent Bertelsmann, which owns 90.4% of FremantleMedia's immediate parent RTL Group and previously owned 50% of joint venture Sony BMG from 2004 to 2008. Since 2011, Universal Music Group replaced Sony Music Entertainment as the general record company associated and affiliated with the Idols format in most countries.

Idols around the world

thumb|center|upright=2.25|Countries that have their own versions of Idols. Countries that film their own versions are in blue, while those that take part in a series with other countries are in green

International versions

: Franchise that is currently airing

: Franchise with an upcoming season

: Franchise that is not currently airing

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; line-height:18px; width:100%;"

! scope="col"| Country/Region

! scope="col"| Local title(s)

! scope="col"| Network

! scope="col"| Winners

! scope="col"| Judges

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="3"| Arab League

| سوبر ستار

|Future TV

Season 1 (2003): Diana Karazon
Season 2 (2004): Ayman El Aatar
Season 3 (2005–06): Ibrahim El Hakami
Season 4 (2007): Marwan Ali
Season 5 (2008): Elie Bitar

Elias Rahbani† (1–5)
Abdallah Al Qaoud (1–5)
Fadia Tenb Al Hadj (1–4)
Ziad Botrous (3–5)

| Arab Idol

|MBC 1

Season 1 (2011–12): Carmen Suleiman
Season 2 (2013): Mohammed Assaf
Season 3 (2014): Hazem Sharif
Season 4 (2016–17): Yacoub Shaheen

Ragheb Alama (1–2)
Ahlam (1–4)
Hassan El Shafei (1–4)
Nancy Ajram (2–4)
Wael Kfoury (3–4)

| Saudi Idol

|MBC 1

Season 1 (2023): Hams Fekri

Aseel Abu Bakr
Assala
Ahlam
Majid Al Mohandis

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Armenia

| Հայ Սուպերսթար

|Shant TV

Season 1 (2006): Susanna Petrosyan
Season 2 (2006–07): Lusine Aghabekyan
Season 3 (2007–08): Lusi Harutunyan
Season 4 (2009–10): Raffi Ohanian
Season 5 (2011): Sona Rubenyan
Season 6 (2025): Areg Galstyan

Egor Glumov (1–4, 6)
Michael Poghosyan (1–4)
Naira Gurjianyan (1–4)
Leila Saribekyan (5)
Avet Barsekhyan (5)
Garik Baboyan (5)
André (5–6)
Syuzanna Melqonyan (6)
Sona Sarkisyan (6)

| style="background:#E0B0FF; text-align:left" | Australia

| text-align:left" | Australian Idol

| Current Seven Network Former Network Ten

Season 1 (2003): Guy Sebastian
Season 2 (2004): Casey Donovan
Season 3 (2005): Kate DeAraugo
Season 4 (2006): Damien Leith
Season 5 (2007): Natalie Gauci
Season 6 (2008): Wes Carr
Season 7 (2009): Stan Walker
Season 8 (2023): Royston Sagigi-Baira
Season 9 (2024): Dylan Wright
Season 10 (2025): Marshall Hamburger
Season 11 (2026): Kesha Oayda
Season 12 (2027): Upcoming Season

Current
Marcia Hines (1–7, 9–)
Kyle Sandilands (3–6, 7 (auditions), 8–)
Amy Shark (8–)
Former
Mark Holden (1–5)
Ian "Dicko" Dickson (1–2, 5–7)
Jay Dee Springbett† (7 semi-finals onwards)
Meghan Trainor (8)
Harry Connick Jr (8)

|- id=B

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Bangladesh

| Bangladeshi Idol

|SA TV

Season 1 (2013): Mong Uching Marma

Andrew Kishore†
Ayub Bachchu†
Ferdausi Rahman
Mehreen Mahmud

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Belgium

| Idool

|VTM

Season 1 (2003): Peter Evrard
Season 2 (2004): Joeri Fransen
Season 3 (2007): Dean Delannoit
Season 4 (2011): Kevin Kayirangwa

Jean Blaute (1–4)
Jan Leyers (1–2)
Nina De Man (1–2)
Bart Brusseleers (1–2)
Vera Mann (3)
Herman Schueremans (3)
Patrick Carbonez (3) †
Sylvia Van Driesche (4)
Wounter Van Belle (4)
Koen Buyse (4)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Brazil

| Ídolos

|SBT RecordTV

Season 1 (2006): Leandro Lopes
Season 2 (2007): Thaeme Mariôto
Season 3 (2008): Rafael Barreto
Season 4 (2009): Saulo Roston
Season 5 (2010): Israel Lucero
Season 6 (2011): Henrique Lemes
Season 7 (2012): Everton Silva

Arnaldo Saccomani† (1–2)
Cyz Zamorano (1–2)
Thomas Roth (1–2)
Carlos Eduardo Miranda † (1–2)
Luiz Calainho (3–5)
Paula Lima (3–5)
Marco Camargo (3–7)
Luiza Possi (6)
Rick Bonadio (6)
Fafá de Belém (7)
Supla (7)

| Ídolos Kids

|RecordTV

Season 1 (2012): Fernando Franco
Season 2 (2013): Julia Tavares

Afonso Nigro
João Gordo
Kelly Key

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Bulgaria

| Music Idol

|bTV

Season 1 (2007): Nevena Tsoneva
Season 2 (2008): Toma Zdravkov
Season 3 (2009): Magdalena Djanavarova

Yordanka Hristova (1)
Slavi Trifonov (1)
Gloria (1)
Doni (1, 3)
Vili Kazasyan† (2)
Dimitar Kovalchev – Funky (2–3)
Esil Duran (2)
Lucy Diakovska (2)
Maria (3)

|- id=C

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Cambodia

|Cambodian Idol

| rowspan="2"|Hang Meas HDTV

Season 1 (2015): Ny Ratana
Season 2 (2016): Chhin Manich
Season 3 (2017–2018): Kry Thaipov
Season 4 (2022): Lim Tichmeng
Season 5 (2024): Ky Savin

Aok Sokunkanha
Nop Bayyareth
Chhorn Sovannareach
Preap Sovath (1–3)
Sok Seylalin (4–5)

|Cambodian Idol Junior

Season 1 (2019): Chira Phern Sopheap
Season 2 (2023): Sam Lida

Sok Seylalin (1–2)
Preap Sovath (1)
Chhorn Sovannareach (1)
Sokun Nisa (2)
Zono (2)

|" style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Canada

| Canadian Idol

|CTV

Season 1 (2003): Ryan Malcolm
Season 2 (2004): Kalan Porter
Season 3 (2005): Melissa O'Neil
Season 4 (2006): Eva Avila
Season 5 (2007): Brian Melo
Season 6 (2008): Theo Tams

Farley Flex (1–6)
Jake Gold (1–6)
Sass Jordan (1–6)
Zack Werner (1–6)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| China

|中国梦之声 Chinese Idol

|DragonTV

Season 1 (2013): XiangXiang "Sean" Li
Season 2 (2014): Sinkey Zheng

Han Hong (1–2)
Huang Xiaoming (1)
Coco Lee† (1)
Wang Wei-chung (1)
Vivian Hsu (2)
Richie Jen (2)
Guo Jingming (2)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Colombia

|Idol Colombia

|RCN Televisión

Season 1 (2014): Luis Ángel Racini

Peter Manjarres
Rosario
Alejandro Villalobos
Eddy Herrera

| rowspan="3" style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" | Croatia

| Hrvatski Idol

|Nova TV

Season 1 (2003): Žanamari Lalić
Season 2 (2004–05): Patrick Jurdić

Đorđe Novković †
Miroslav Škoro
Nikša Bratoš
Goran Karan

| Hrvatska traži zvijezdu

| rowspan="2" |RTL

Season 1 (2009): Bojan Jambrošić
Season 2 (2010): Kim Verson
Season 3 (2011): Goran Kos

Tony Cetinski
Goran Lisica-Fox
Ivana Mišerić (3)
Anđa Marić (2)
Jelena Radan (1)

|Superstar

Season 1 (2023): Hana Ivković
Season 2 (2024): Karla Miklaužić

Severina
Tonči Huljić
Filip Miletić
Nika Turković

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Czech Republic

| Česko hledá SuperStar

|TV Nova

Season 1 (2004): Aneta Langerová
Season 2 (2005): Vlastimil Horváth
Season 3 (2006): Zbyněk Drda

Leoš Mareš
Ondřej Hejma
Ilona Csáková
Eduard Klezla

| style="background:#E0B0FF; text-align:left"| Czech Republic Slovakia

| text-align:left"| SuperStar

|TV Nova Markíza

Season 1 (2009): Martin Chodúr
Season 2 (2011): Lukáš Adamec
Season 3 (2013): Sabina Křováková
Season 4 (2015): Emma Drobná
Season 5 (2018): Tereza Mašková
Season 6 (2020): Barbora Piešová
Season 7 (2021): Adam Pavlovčin
Season 8 (2026): Upcoming Season

Current
Pavol Habera
Ewa Farna (3,8-)
Calin (8-)
Jakub Prachař (8-)
Former
Leoš Mareš (6–7)
Monika Bagárová (6–7)
Patricie Pagáčová (6–7)
Marián Čekovský (6–)
Matěj Ruppert (5)
Ben Cristovao (5)
Katarína Knechtová (5)
Marta Jandová (1, 4)
Ondřej Soukup (3–4)
Klára Vytisková (4)
Rytmus (2)
Gabriela Osvaldová (2)
Helena Zeťová (2) †
Dara Rolins (1)
Ondřej Hejma (1)

|- id=D

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Denmark

| Idols

|TV3

Season 1 (2003): Christian Mendoza
Season 2 (2004): Rikke Emma Niebuhr

Thomas Blanchman
Kjeld Wennick
Henriette Blix
Carsten Kroeyer

|- id=E

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| East Africa

| Idols

|DStv

Season 1 (2008): Eric Moyo

Lebogang Mzwimbi
Thato Matlhabaphiri
Angela Angwenyi
Trevor Siyandi
Kawesa Richard

| style="background: #FEA3A3; "| Estonia

| Eesti otsib superstaari

|TV3

Season 1 (2007): Birgit Õigemeel
Season 2 (2008): Jana Kask
Season 3 (2009): Ott Lepland
Season 4 (2011): Liis Lemsalu
Season 5 (2012): Rasmus Rändvee
Season 6 (2015): Jüri Pootsmann
Season 7 (2018): Uudo Sepp
Season 8 (2021): Alika Milova
Season 9 (2023): Ant Nurhan

Rein Rannap (1–4, 6)
Heidy Purga (1–2; guest judge 5)
Mihkel Raud (1–5, 7–9)
Maarja-Liis Ilus (3–6)
Mart Sander (5)
Tanel Padar (6)
Jarek Kasar (6)
Koit Toome (7–9)
Eda-Ines Etti (7)
Birgit Sarrap (8–9)

|- id=F

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Finland

| Idols

|MTV3 (1–7) Nelonen (8–9)

Season 1 (2003–04): Hanna Pakarinen
Season 2 (2005): Ilkka Jääskeläinen
Season 3 (2007): Ari Koivunen
Season 4 (2008): Koop Arponen
Season 5 (2011): Martti Saarinen
Season 6 (2012): Diandra Flores
Season 7 (2013): Mitra Kaislaranta
Season 8 (2017): Anniina Timonen
Season 9 (2018): Patrik Blomberg

Jone Nikula (1–7, 9)
Asko Kallonen (1, 3)
Hannu Korkeamäki (1)
Nanna Mikkonen (1)
Nina Tapio (2–5)
Kim Kuusi (2)
Jarkko Valtee (2)
Patric Sarin (4)
Sami Pitkämö (5)
Laura Voutilainen (6)
Tommi Liimatainen (6)
Sini Sabotage (7)
Jussi 69 (7)
Lauri Ylönen (7)
Antti Tuisku (8)
Erin (8)
Jurek Reunamäki (8)
Elastinen (9)
Maija Vilkkumaa (9)
Jannika B (9)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| France

|Nouvelle Star

|M6 D8

Season 1 (2003): Jonatan Cerrada
Season 2 (2004): Steeve Estatof
Season 3 (2005): Myriam Abel
Season 4 (2006): Christophe Willem
Season 5 (2007): Julien Doré
Season 6 (2008): Amandine Bourgeois
Season 7 (2009): Soan Faya
Season 8 (2010): Lucie Brunet
Season 9 (2012–13): Sophie-Tith Charvet
Season 10 (2014): Mathieu Saikaly
Season 11 (2015): Emji
Season 12 (2016): Patrick Rouiller
Season 13 (2017): Xavier Mateú

André Manoukian (1–12)
Dove Attia (1–5)
Varda Kakon (1)
Lionel Florence (1)
Marianne James (2–5)
Manu Katché (2–5)
Sinclair (6–7, 9–12)
Lio (6–8)
Phillippe Manœuvre (6–8)
Marco Prince (8)
Maurane (9–10)
Olivier Bas (9–10)
Elodie Frégé (11–12)
Yarol Poupaud (11)
JoeyStarr (12)
Benjamin Biolay (13)
Dany Synthé (13)
Cœur de pirate (13)
Nathalie Noennec (13)

|- id=G

| rowspan="4" style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" |Georgia

|ჯეოსტარი

| rowspan="2" |Rustavi 2

Season 3 (2008): Giorgi Sukhitashvili
Season 4 (2009): Nodiko Tatishvili
Season 5 (2010): Oto Nemsadze
Season 6 (2011): Marita Rokhvadze

Marina Beridze (3–6)
Levan Tsuladze (3–5)
Lana Kutateladze (3, 5)
Buba Kikabidze (4)
Sopho Khalvashi (6)
Gigi Dedalamazashvili (6)
Niko Nergadze (6)

|საქართველოს ვარსკვლავი

Season 1 (2012): Luka Zakariadze
Season 2 (2013): Nina Sublatti

|ჩვენ ვარსკვლავები ვართ

| rowspan="2" |Imedi TV

Season 1 (2017): Mananiko Tsenteradze

|საქართველოს ვარსკვლავი

Season 1 (2018–19): Oto Nemsadze
Season 2 (2019): Tornike Kipiani

| style="background:#E0B0FF; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Germany

| Deutschland sucht den Superstar

|rowspan="2"|RTL

Season 1 (2002–03): Alexander Klaws
Season 2 (2003–04): Elli Erl
Season 3 (2005–06): Tobias Regner
Season 4 (2007): Mark Medlock
Season 5 (2008): Thomas Godoj
Season 6 (2009): Daniel Schuhmacher
Season 7 (2010): Mehrzad Marashi
Season 8 (2011): Pietro Lombardi
Season 9 (2012): Luca Hänni
Season 10 (2013): Beatrice Egli
Season 11 (2014): Aneta Sablik
Season 12 (2015): Severino Seeger
Season 13 (2016): Prince Damien Ritzinger
Season 14 (2017): Alphonso Williams
Season 15 (2018): Marie Wegener
Season 16 (2019): Davin Herbrüggen
Season 17 (2020): Ramon Roselly
Season 18 (2021): Jan–Marten Block
Season 19 (2022): Harry Marcello Laffontien
Season 20 (2023): Sem Eisinger
Season 21 (2024): Christian Jährig
Season 22 (2026): Menowin Fröhlich

Current Season
Dieter Bohlen (1–18, 20–)
Bushido (22–)
Isi Glück (22–)
Former
Thomas Bug (1–2)
Shona Fraser (1–2)
Thomas M. Stein (1–2)
Sylvia Kollek (3)
Heinz Henn (3–4)
Anja Lukaseder (4–5)
Andreas Läsker (5)
Nina Eichinger (6–7)
Volker Neumüller (6–7)
Fernanda Brandão (8)
Patrick Nuo (8)
Natalie Horler (9)
Bruce Darnell (9)
Bill Kaulitz (10)
Tom Kaulitz (10)
Mateo Jaschik (10)
Kay One (11)
Mietze Katz (11)
Marianne Rosenberg (11)
Mandy Capristo (12)
DJ Antoine (12)
Heino (12)
Vanessa Mai (13)
Michelle (13–14)
H.P. Baxxter (13–14)
Shirin David (14)
Ella Endlich (15)
Mousse T. (15)
Carolin Niemczyk (15)
Oana Nechiti (16–17)
Pietro Lombardi (16–17, 20–21)
Xavier Naidoo (16–17)
Maite Kelly (18)
Mike Singer (18)
Ilse DeLange (19)
Toby Gad (19)
Florian Silbereisen (19)
Katja Krasavice (20)
Leony (20)
Beatrice Egli (21)
Loredana (21)

| Deutschland sucht den Superstar Kids

Season 1 (2012): Marco Kappel

Dieter Bohlen
Michelle Hunziker
Dana Schweiger

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Greece

| Super Idol

|Mega TV

Season 1 (2004): Stavros Konstantinou

Elena Katrava
Konstantis Spyropoulos
Ilias Psinakis

|Greek Idol

|Alpha TV

Season 1 (2010): Valanto Trifonos
Season 2 (2011): Panagiotis Tsakalakos

Petros Kostopoulosk (1–2)
Dimitris Kontopoulos (1)
Maro Theodoraki (1)
Kostas Kapetanidis (1–2)
Elli Kokkinou (1)

|- id=I

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Iceland

| Idol stjörnuleit

|Stöð 2

Season 1 (2003–04): Kalli Bjarni
Season 2 (2004–05): Hildur Vala Einarsdóttir
Season 3 (2005–06): Snorri Snorrason
Season 4 (2009): Hrafna Hanna Elísa Herbertsdóttir
Season 5 (2023): Saga Matthildur Árnadóttir
Season 6 (2024): Anna Fanney Kristinsdóttir

Bubbi Morthens (1–3)
Sigga Beinteins (1–3)
Þorvaldur Bjarni þorvaldsson (1–2)
Páll Óskar (3)
Einar Bárðarson (3)
Björn Jörundur Friðbjørnsson (4)
Selma Björnsdóttir (4)
Jón Ólafsson (4)
Herra Hnetusmjör (5–6)
Birgitta Haukdal (5–6)
Bríet (5–6)
Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson (5–6)

| rowspan="4" style="background:#90EE90; text-align:left" | India

| text-align:left" | Indian Idol

|rowspan="2"|SET

Season 1 (2004–05): Abhijeet Sawant
Season 2 (2005–06): Sandeep Acharya†
Season 3 (2007): Prashant Tamang
Season 4 (2008–09): Sourabhee Debbarma
Season 5 (2010): Sreeram Chandra
Season 6 (2012): Vipul Mehta
Season 9 (2017): L. V. Revanth
Season 10 (2018): Salman Ali
Season 11 (2019): Sunny Hindustani
Season 12 (2020): Pawandeep Rajan
Season 13 (2022–23): Rishi Singh
Season 14 (2023–24): Vaibhav Gupta
Season 15 (2024-25): Manasi Ghosh
Season 16 (2025-26): Current Season

Current
Vishal Dadlani (8–)
Shreya Ghoshal (12–)
Badshah (13-)
Former
Farah Khan (1–2, 7)
Sonu Nigam (1–2, 7)
Javed Akhtar (3–4)
Alisha Chinai (3)
Udit Narayan (3)
Kailash Kher (4)
Sonali Bendre (4)
Sunidhi Chauhan (5–6)
Salim Merchant (5–6)
Asha Bhosle (6, after auditions)
Javed Ali (8)
Anu Malik (1–10)
Sonu Kakkar (10)
Neha Kakkar (8–11)
Himesh Reshammiya (9–11)
Kumar Sanu (12)

| style="background:90EE90;"| Indian Idol Junior

Season 7 (2013): Anjana Padmanabhan
Season 8 (2015): Ananya Nanda

Vishal Dadlani (1–2)
Shreya Ghoshal (1)
Shekhar Ravjiani (1)
Salim Merchant (2)
Shalmali Kholgade (2, during auditions)
Sonakshi Sinha (2)

|Indian Idol Marathi

|Sony Marathi

Season 1 (2021): Sagar Mhatre

Ajay Gogavale
Atul Gogavale

| style="background:#90EE9t0; ext-align:left"|Telugu Indian Idol

|Aha

Season 1 (2022): BVK Vagdevi
Season 2 (2023): Soujanya Bhagavatula
Season 3 (2024): Nazeeruddin Shaik
Season 4 (2025): Current season

Current
Thaman S (1-)
Karthik (1-)
Geeta Madhuri (2-)
Former
Nithya Menen (1)

| rowspan="2" style="background:#90EE90; text-align:left" |Indonesia

| text-align:left"|Indonesian Idol

|RCTI

Season 1 (2004): Joy Destiny Tobing
Season 2 (2005): Mike Mohede†
Season 3 (2006): Ihsan Tarore
Season 4 (2007): Rini Wulandari
Season 5 (2008): Januarisman
Season 6 (2010): Igo Pentury
Season 7 (2012): Regina Ivanova
Season 8 (2014): Nowela Auparay
Season 9 (2017–2018): Maria Simorangkir
Season 10 (2019–2020): Lyodra Ginting
Season 11 (2020–2021): Rimar Callista
Season 12 (2022-2023): Salma Salsabil
Season 13 (2024-25): Shabrina Leanor
Season 14 (2025-26): Celyna Grace

Current

Judika (9–)
Rossa (6, 11–)
Bunga Citra Lestari (9-10, 12–)
Maia Estianty (9-11, 13-)
Soleh Solihun (14-)
Former
Titi DJ (1–5, 8)
Meuthia Kasim (1–2)
Dimas Djayadiningrat (1–3)
Indra Lesmana (1–5)
Indy Barends (3)
Jamie Aditya (4)
Agnez Mo (6–7)
Erwin Gutawa (7)
Ahmad Dhani (7–8)
Tantri Syalindri (8)
Anang Hermansyah (4-8,10-13)
Ari Lasso (9–11)
Armand Maulana (9)
David Bayu (12)
Reza "Arap" Oktovian (14) (hiatus)

| Indonesian Idol Junior

|MNCTV RCTI

Season 1 (2014–2015): Johannes Tinambunan
Season 2 (2016–2017): Sharon Padidi
Season 3 (2018): Anneth Delliecia

Daniel Mananta (1–2)
Regina Ivanova (1)
Titi DJ (1)
Irvnat (1)
Vidi Aldiano (2)
Nola AB Three (2)
Rossa (3)
Rizky Febian (3)
Maia Estianty (3)
Rayi Putra (3)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Iraq

|Iraq Idol

|MBC Iraq

Season 1 (2021): Ali Leo
Season 2 (2022): Afraa Sultan

Saif Nabeel
Hatem Al Iraqi
Rahma Riad

|- id=K

| style="background:#E0B0FF; text-align:left"| Kazakhstan

| SuperStar KZ

| Current Qazaqstan Former Channel One Eurasia

Season 1 (2003–04): Almas Kishkenbayev
Season 2 (2004–05): Kayrat Tuntekov
Season 3 (2005–06): Nurzhan Kermenbayev
Season 4 (2007): Oleg Karezin
Season 5 (2026): Upcoming season

|Current

Yerbolat Bedelkhan (5-)
Lyayla Sultan-Kyzy (1,5-)
Makpal Isabekova (5-)
Former
Batyrkhan Shukenov (1)
Roman Rayfeld (1)
Arman Murzagaliev (1)
Dariga Nazarbayeva (2)
Almaz Amirseitov (2)
Oleg Markov (2)
Diana Snegina (2)
Nagima Eskalieva (3–4)
Ludmila Kim (3)
Kayrat Kulbayev (3)
Igor Sirtsov (3)
Taras Boichenko (4)
Serik Akishev (4)

| style="background:#FEA3A3 ; text-align:left"| Kurdistan

| Kurd Idol

|Kurdsat

Season 1 (2017): Jînda Kenco

Bijan Kamkar
Kanî
Adnan Karim
Nizamettin Ariç

|- id=L

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"|Latin America

| Latin American Idol

|Sony Channel

Season 1 (2006): Mayré Martínez
Season 2 (2007): Carlos Peña
Season 3 (2008): Margarita Henríquez
Season 4 (2009): Martha Heredia

Erika de la Vega (1–4)
Monchi Balestra (1–3)
Jon Secada (1–4)
Mimi (2–4)
Gustavo Sánchez (1–3)
Oscar Mediavilla (4)

|- id=M

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Malaysia

|Malaysian Idol

|8TV TV3

Season 1 (2004): Jaclyn Victor
Season 2 (2005): Daniel Lee Chee Hun

Paul Moss
Roslan Aziz
Fauziah Latiff

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Maldives

| Maldivian Idol

|Television Maldives

Season 1 (2016): Laisha Junaid
Season 2 (2017): Mohamed Thasneem
Season 3 (2018): Aishath Azal Ali Zahir

Ahmed Ibrahim (1)
Ibrahim Zaid Ali (1–2)
Unoosha (1–3)
Ismail Affan (2–3)
Zara Mujthaba (3)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Myanmar

|Myanmar Idol

|MNTV Channel 9

Season 1 (2015–2016): Saw Lah Htaw Wah
Season 2 (2016–2017): Thar Nge
Season 3 (2018): Phyo Myat Aung
Season 4 (2019): Esther Dawt Chin Sung

Chan Chan (1)
Ye Lay (1)
May Sweet (1–2)
Myanmar Pyi Thein Than (2–3)
Tin Zar Maw (2–4)
Myo Kyawt Myaing (3)
Yan Aung (3)
Aung Ko Latt (4)
Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein (4)

|- id=N

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Nepal

|Nepal Idol

| rowspan="2"|AP1TV

Season 1 (2017): Buddha Lama
Season 2 (2018): Ravi Oad
Season 3 (2019–2020): Sajja Chaulagain
Season 4 (2021): Bhupendra Thapa Magar
Season 5 (2024): Karan Pariyar
Season 6 (2025): Ganga Sonam

Nyhoo Bajracharya (1–3, 5–6)
Kali Prasad Baskota (1–3, 5–6)
Indira Joshi (1–3, 5–6)
Sambhujeet Baskota (4)
Sugam Pokharel (4)
Subani Moktan (4)

|Nepal Idol Junior

Season 1 (2025): Postponed

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"|Netherlands

|Idols

|RTL 4

Season 1 (2002–03): Jamai Loman
Season 2 (2003–04): Boris Titulaer
Season 3 (2005–06): Raffaëla Paton
Season 4 (2007–08): Nikki Kerkhof
Season 5 (2016): Nina den Hartog
Season 6 (2017): Julia van Helvoirt

Edwin Jansen (1–2)
Henkjan Smits (1–3)
Eric Van Tijn (1–4)
Jerney Kaagman (1–4)
John Ewbank (4)
Gordon Heuckeroth (4)
Martijn Krabbé (5–6)
Ronald Molendijk (5–6)
Jamai Loman (5–6)
Eva Simons (5–6)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| New Zealand

| scope="row"| NZ Idol

|TVNZ 2

Season 1 (2004): Ben Lummis
Season 2 (2005): Rosita Vai
Season 3 (2006): Matthew Saunoa

Frankie Stevens (1–3)
Fiona McDonald (1)
Paul Ellis (1–2)
Jackie Clarke (2)
Iain Stables (3)
Megan Alatini (3)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Nigeria

| scope="row"| Nigerian Idol

|Various

Season 1 (2010–11): Yeka Onka
Season 2 (2011–12): Chinwo "Mercy" Nnenda
Season 3 (2012–13): Moses Obi-Adigwe
Season 4 (2013–14): Evelle
Season 5 (2014–15): K-Peace
Season 6 (2021–22): Kingdom Kroseide
Season 7 (2022): Progress Chukwuyem
Season 8 (2023): Victory Gbakara
Season 9 (2024): Chima Udoye
Season 10 (2025): Anu Agosa "Purp" Fadoju

Jeffrey Daniel (1–3)
Yinka Davies (1–3)
Audu Maikori (1)
Charly Boy (2)
Femi Kuti (3)
Naeto C (3)
Darey (4–5)
Nneka (4)
Dede Mabiaku (4–5)
Obi Asika (6-8)
Seyi Shay (6)
DJ Sose (6)
D'banj (7–8)
Simi (7–8)
9ice (9)
Omawumi (9-10)
Ric Hassani (9–10)
Iyanya (10)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| North Macedonia

| Macedonian Idol

|A1TV

Season 1 (2010–11): Ivan Radenov

Kaliopi Bukle
Igor Džambazov
Toni Mihajlovski

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"rowspan="2" | Norway

| Idol

|rowspan="2"|TV 2

Season 1 (2003): Kurt Nilsen
Season 2 (2004): Kjartan Salvesen
Season 3 (2005): Jorun Stiansen
Season 4 (2006): Aleksander Denstad With
Season 5 (2007): Glenn Lyse
Season 6 (2011): Jenny Langlo
Season 7 (2013): Siri Vølstad Jensen
Season 8 (2014): Ingvar Olsen
Season 9 (2016): Marius Samuelsen
Season 10 (2018): Øystein Hegvik
Season 11 (2020): Mari Bølla

Jan Fredrik Karlsen (1–2, 5)
Ole Evenrud (1, 3)
Morten Ståle Nilsen (1)
Lena Midtveit (1)
Anneli Drecker (2)
Douglas Carr (2)
Thomas Strzelecki (2)
Tone-Lise Skagefoss (3–4)
Tor Milde (3–4)
David Eriksen (3)
Amund Bjørklund (4)
Hans Olav Grøttheim (4)
Asbjørn Slettemark (5)
Benedicte Adrian (5)
Mariann Thomassen (5)
Bertine Zetlitz (6)
Marion Ravn (6)
Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby (6)
Gunnar Greve Petterson (6–10)
Tone Damli Aaberge (7–8)
Kurt Nilsen (7–8)
Esben Selvig (7–8)
Ina Wroldsen (9)
Øyvind Sauvik (9)
Sandeep Singh (9)
Tshawe Baqwa (10–11)
Silje Larsen Borgan (10–11)
Andreas Haukeland (11)

| Idol Junior

Season 1 (2014): Mathilde Spurkeland

Alejandro Fuentes
Aleksander With
Margaret Berger
Sandra Lyng

|- id=P

| rowspan="1" style="background:#90EE90; text-align:left" | Pakistan

| text-align:left"|Pakistan Idol

|Geo Entertainment Various

Season 1 (2014): Zamad Baig
Season 2 (2025-26): Current season

Current
Fawad Khan (2–)
Bilal Maqsood (2–)
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (2–)
Zeb Bangash (2–)
Former
Hadiqa Kiani (1)
Ali Azmat (1)
Bushra Ansari (1)

| rowspan="4" style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" | Philippines

| Philippine Idol

|ABC

Season 1 (2006): Mau Marcelo

Ryan Cayabyab
Pilita Corrales
Francis Magalona

| Pinoy Idol

|GMA Network

Season 1 (2008): Gretchen Espina

Ogie Alcasid
Jolina Magdangal
Wyngard Tracy

| Idol Philippines

|ABS-CBN Kapamilya Channel A2Z TV5

Season 1 (2019): Zephanie Dimaranan
Season 2 (2022): Khimo Gumatay

Regine Velasquez (1–2)
Moira Dela Torre (1–2)
Vice Ganda (1)
James Reid (1)
Gary Valenciano (2)
Chito Miranda (2)

|Idol Kids Philippines

|Kapamilya Channel

Season 1 (2025): Alexa Mendoza

Regine Velasquez
Angeline Quinto
Juan Karlos
Gary Valenciano

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Poland

|Idol

|Polsat

Season 1 (2002): Alicja Janosz
Season 2 (2002–03): Krzysztof Zalewski
Season 3 (2003–04): Monika Brodka
Season 4 (2005): Maciej Silski
Season 5 (2017): Mariusz Dyba

Elżbieta Zapendowska (1–5)
Jacek Cygan (1–4)
Robert Leszczyński (1–4)
Kuba Wojewódzki (1–2, 4)
Marcin Prokop (3)
Maciej Maleńczuk (3)
Janusz Panasewicz (5)
Ewa Farna (5)
Wojciech Łuszcykiewicz (5)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Portugal

| Ídolos

|rowspan="2"|SIC

Season 1 (2003–04): Nuno Norte
Season 2 (2004–05): Sérgio Lucas
Season 3 (2009–10): Filipe Pinto
Season 4 (2010): Sandra Pereira
Season 5 (2012): Diogo Piçarra
Season 6 (2015): João Couto
Season 7 (2022): Eduardo Gonçalves

Sofia Morais (1–2)
Manuel Moura Dos Santos (1–5)
Luis Jardim (1–2)
Ramón Galarza (1–2)
Laurent Filipe (3–4)
Roberta Medina (3–4)
Pedro Boucherie Mendes (3–4, 6)
Bárbara Guimarães (5)
Tony Carreira (5)
Pedro Abrunhosa (5)
Paulo Ventura (6)
Maria João Bastos (6)
Martim Sousa Tavares (7)
Joana Marques (7)
Ana Bacalhau (7)
Tatanka (7)

|Ídolos Kids

Season 1 (2012): Ana Baptista

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left" rowspan="2"| Puerto Rico

|Idol Puerto Rico

|rowspan="2"|WAPA-TV

Season 1 (2011): Christian Pagán
Season 2 (2012): Gremal Maldonado
Season 3 (2013): Marileyda Hernández

Topy Mamery (1–3)
Ricardo Montaner (1–2)
Yolandita Monge (2)
Erika Ender (1)
Jerry Rivera (1)
Milly Quezada (3)
Noel Schajris (3)
Elvis Crespo (3)

|Idol Kids Puerto Rico

Season 1 (2012): Edgard Hernández
Season 2 (2013): Christopher Rivera

Erika Ender (1)
Edgardo Diaz (1–2)
Florentino Primera (1)
Servando Primera (1)
Ana Isabelle (2)
Kany Garcia (2)

|- id=R

|style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left|Romania

|SuperStar România

|Pro TV

Season 1 (2021): Alessandro Mucea

Smiley
Raluka
Marius Moga
Carla's Dreams

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Russia

|Народный Артист

|Rossiya 1

Season 1 (2003): Aleksey Goman
Season 2 (2004): Ruslan Alehno
Season 3 (2006): Amarkhuu Borkhuu

Evgeniy Fridlyand (1,3)
Larisa Dolina (1)
Anton Komolov (1)
Tigran Keosayan (1–2)
Laima Vaikule (2)
Kim Breitburg (2)
Artur Gasparyan (2)
Maksim Dunayevsky (3)
Gennady Khazanov (3)
Alena Sviidova (3)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Serbia and Montenegro Macedonia

|Idol

|RTV BK Telecom

Season 1 (2003–04): Cveta Majtanović
Season 2 (2005): Mina Laličić

Saša Dragić (1–2)
Petar Janjatović (1–2)
Biljana Bakić (1–2)
Mirko Vukomanović (1–2)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Singapore

|Singapore Idol

|MediaCorp

Season 1 (2004): Taufik Batisah
Season 2 (2006): Hady Mirza
Season 3 (2009): Sezairi Sezali

Dick Lee (1–3)
Florence Lian (1–3)
Ken Lim (1–3)
Douglas Oliverio (1)
Jacintha Abisheganaden (2)

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Slovakia

|Slovensko hľadá SuperStar

|STV Markíza

Season 1 (2004–05): Katarína Koščová
Season 2 (2005–06): Peter Cmorik
Season 3 (2007): Vierka Berkyová

Laco Lučenič (1–3)
Pavol Habera (1–3)
Lenka Slaná (1)
Julo Viršík (1–2)
Jana Hubinská (2)
Dara Rolins (3)

| rowspan="2" style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| South Africa

|Idols

|M-Net Mzansi Magic

Season 1 (2002): Heinz Winckler
Season 2 (2003): Anke Pietrangeli
Season 3 (2005): Karin Kortje
Season 4 (2007): Jody Williams
Season 5 (2009): Jason Hartman and Sasha-Lee Davids
Season 6 (2010): Elvis Blue
Season 7 (2011): Dave van Vuuren
Season 8 (2012): Khaya Mthethwa
Season 9 (2013): Musa Sukwene
Season 10 (2014): Vincent Bones
Season 11 (2015): Karabo Mogane
Season 12 (2016): Noma Khumalo
Season 13 (2017): Paxton Fielies
Season 14 (2018): Yanga Sobetwa
Season 15 (2019): Luyolo Yiba
Season 16 (2020): Zama Khumalo
Season 17 (2021): Berry Trytsman
Season 18 (2022): Thapelo Molomo
Season 19 (2023): Thabo Ndlovu

Somizi Mhlongo (11–19)
Thembi Seete (18–19)
JR (18–19)
Randall Abrahams (1–17)
Unathi Nkayi (7–17)
Gareth Cliff (1–12)
Mara Louw (2–9)
Dave Thompson (1–5)
Marcus Brewster (1)
Penny Lebyane (1)

| scope="row"| Idols

|kykNET

Season 1 (2006): Dewald Louw

Mynie Grové
Deon Maas
Taliep Petersen

| style="background:#FEA3A3; text-align:left"| Spain

|Idol Kids

|Telecinco

Season 1 (2020): Índigo Salvador
Season 2 (2022): Carla Zaldívar

Omar Montes (2)
Edurne (1)
Carlos Jean (1)
United Kingdom: ITV