Whey hey hey, yes, it's that time of year again, Big Brother has ended and we've celebrated the win of whatshisname and moarned the loss of whatsherface and have possibly started to miss the lovely host gretel whatsherdressdoingonthatuglybody.

We've also just witnessed the premier of Australia's Brainiest Loser, a show designed to remind us of the names of the competitors from the first series of the reality show that made us fall in love with some of Australia's fattest people. Surprise surprise the winner of the show, who was a couple tic tacs short of a packet of tic tacs (if you know what I mean) didn't make it past round one! The show's failed in it's job as I'm still less aware of the competitors names, but seeing that many fat people on "reality tv" has reminded me to ask "What happened to Casey Donovan?"

NETWORK Ten has overhauled Australian Idol and canned half the audition shows in an attempt to arrest last year's slide in ratings. The fourth Idol series, which begins on Sunday, will also include older contestants, the performance of original songs and live semi-finals.

Inside Idol, which will air on Thursday nights, will be folded into Monday's "results" show, men will compete against men and women against women, and the number of audition episodes will be halved.

"There are some significant changes this year," Idol executive producer Stephen Tate said.

Australian Idol 2 Top 12 contestant Angie Narayan is releasing her debut single but rather than launching her career with an original song, Angie is releasing a remake of the Aretha Franklin classic Chain of Fools.

I'm always disappointed when an Idol contestant launches their career with a cover song and in Angie's case it's even more disappointing considering she's had almost two years to come up with something original and inspiring.

Bouncing around the internet on a lazy Sunday afternoon can be a lot of fun, especially when you get to read what those contestants who have auditioned have been posting on their blogs about their Australian Idol experience.

Take Melbourne auditonee Nati who has documented her Australian Idol audition experience. Nati made it through the first audition and got her blue ticket but was told in the second round that her voice just wasn't quite there.

Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams, the winner and runner-up from last year's Australian Idol, have joined forces with Ricki-Lee Coulter from season 2 and Paulini Curuenavuli from season one to form a new girl group, Young Divas.

The band released their first single today, a cover version of the 1970s Donna Summer hit This Time I Know It's For Real, ahead of a 17-date national tour.

The girls insist that despite forming Young Divas, their solo careers will still come first

Australian Idol season one runner up Shannon Noll has set his sights on crossing over onto the big screen.

According to the Adelaide Confidential Shannon is asking movie producers "What About Me" in that hopes that he'll score a roll in a feature length movie for the silver screen.

Australian Idol 2006 Auditions are well underway now with a number of contestants from the small regions making it through to the state capital auditions. According to what we've been able to find out Claire Thurstans, Klancie Keough, Luke Westbrook, Megan Sarmardin, Simon Penhaligon, Tansy Coull and Tess Latu (pictured) have made it through from Hobart, Mt Isa and Byron Bay.

Do you know anyone that has auditioned and made it through to the next round? Do you know anyone in this photo from the Broken Hill auditions? Let us know or add their details to the contestants wiki.

Australian Idol 4 Auditions will commence on March 5, 2006, in North West Queensland’s ‘Oasis of the Outback’ - Mt Isa.

As well as the state capitals, Mt Isa, Byron Bay, Broken Hill, Newcastle, Albury, Townsville and Alice Springs have been included as audition locations for the first time, and producers have increased the age limit of auditionees to 30 years of age (under 31 years of age as at June 30, 2006)

Potential Idols can audition at the following locations:

• MT ISA – March 5 Spinifex Senior College
• BYRON BAY – March 11 Byron Bay Beach Resort
• BROKEN HILL – March 18 Broken Hill Entertainment Centre
• HOBART – March 25 Derwent Entertainment Centre
• NEWCASTLE – April 1, Newcastle Jockey Club (Broadway Racecourse) Darling Street, Broadmeadow
• ALBURY WODONGA – April 22 Albury Convention & Performing Arts Centre Swift Street Albury
• ADELAIDE Date and venue announced soon.
• ALICE SPRINGS Date and venue announced soon.
• PERTH– May 7 Ascot Racecourse: Off Grandstand Rd, Ascot
• MELBOURNE – May 13-15 Melbourne Park Function Centre
• BRISBANE – May 20-21 Suncorp Piazza
• TOWNSVILLE – May 28 Townsville Entertainment Centre
• SYDNEY – June 2-4 Sydney Convention Centre (Hall 6)

After Kate DeAraugo achieved sales well below the mark set by previous Idols last year the future of Australian Idol is in doubt beyond a fourth season.

Australia Idol judge Mark Holden is speculating that the upcoming fourth season of the TV karaoke contest may close the series after the drop in ratings from last year's season.

Australian Idol Casey Donovan has been confirmed as a performer at the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on Sunday night.