SA singer Sarah Lloyde: ‘The Voice was horrifying and heartbreaking’

Years on, we’re catching up with Sarah and some other of SA’s former reality TV faves.

Horrifying and heartbreaking is how Adelaide’s Sarah Lloyde is describing her time on The Voice a decade ago.

One of the most popular performers on the local music scene over the years, Sarah is now married to her soulmate Tim Day and loving being a mum to their daughter Nola.

“Being on reality TV was a crazy, wonderful, horrifying, heartbreaking, exciting, amazing experience,” says Sarah, who was 24 when she was on The Voice, adding: “It’s a lot to go through!”

Asked to elaborate, she says – with a laugh – that it was horrifying because it was “nerve-racking”.

Sarah Lloyde when she appeared on reality TV series The Voice.

As for why it was heartbreaking, Sarah – who was sent home by her mentor Delta Goodrem after a sing-off of Mariah Carey’s Hero with Sydney’s Dannii Da Ros – says: “I actually had quite a hard time getting over my time on the show.”

She adds: “I guess that might be on me for being so invested, but, at that time, music was my everything – so I had put my absolute all into it. Then, when it was suddenly all over, it leaves you feeling a bit all over the shop. But once you work through that stuff, make your next plan and get on with it, you can see how many doors these shows actually have the potential to open for you.”

For Sarah, part of that was recording in the US where she bumped into Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who took the time to look at her music videos online – including the one for her single Luv Fool.

Ten years on, she’s spending more time singing to Nola than audiences … for the moment, anyway.

Sarah Lloyde with husband Tim Day and daughter Nola Picture: Supplied

Sarah Lloyde with husband Tim Day and daughter Nola Picture: Supplied

“Music has brought me so much joy throughout my life, but none compares to the joy that I feel being Nola‘s mum,’ Sarah says.

“I’ve always thought I was put on this earth to sing, but now I realise that my main purpose was my baby girl and now everything else comes second.

But I’ve started my journey back to the stage and I’m flirting with some opportunities to get in front of the camera again. I’ll be releasing a few goodies very soon – both covers and originals.”

Reality TV – and all its drama – has been part of our lives for more than two decades. Let’s see what some of our favourite South Australian contestants – including Sarah – are up to now:

JO MCPHARLIN

If that name doesn’t ring a bell this one will: Foxy Jojo. Who just happened to be matched with another South Aussie – Sean Donnelly – on Married At First Sight back in 2018. At the time Jo was disappointed her “hubby” wasn’t able to see past her physical appearance.

“Clearly he was just after a size-eight, skinny girl – and I wasn’t it,” she said.

“So it’s interesting to see how people react when it’s a ‘not-what-they-ordered’ situation.”

Four years on and Jo is looking healthy and happy and living her best life. “I’m climbing the corporate ladder and love travelling Australia as a jetsetting sales executive,” she says, adding: I’m still Foxy and fantastic, empowering women as a body confident ambassador.”

Jo also tells us she’s open to appearing on another reality TV show and is hooked on Love Triangle. Hint, hint!

THEN: Jo McPharlin was a “bride” on Married At First Sight in 2018.

NOW: Jo McPharlin

SARAH LLOYDE

Broken Hill born singer-songwriter Sarah Lloyde, who moved to Adelaide as a child, appeared on Australian Idol in 2007 – making it through to the top 16 – and The Voice in 2012, where she was mentored by Delta Goodrem. Since The Voice, Sarah’s been in demand for gigs around town, has released her own original music and – because she’s a big believer in sharing the love and p (l) aying it forward – teaching others to sing. She’s also got hitched to hubby Tim Day and become a mum to daughter Nola, who’s soon to turn two.

BTW, Sarah’s brother, fellow singer-songwriter Mason Lloyde – who also appeared on The Voice – is also making a name for himself on the Adelaide music scene.

THEN: Sarah Lloyde in the noughties. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

NOW: Sarah Lloyde and her brother Mason. Picture: Keryn Stevens

ALI OETJEN

It’s been almost a decade since the real estate agent Ali Oetjen found fame on the first season of The Bachelor in 2013. While she didn’t win the heart of Tim Robards it wasn’t too long before she found love in the real world, becoming engaged to Dave Waldeck. When that romance ended, Ali went on to star in The Bachelor’s spin-off series Bachelor in Paradise. Fellow contestant Grant Kemp put a ring on it. Another broken engagement followed, but Ali wasn’t giving up on her search for The One. She went on to become the leading lady on The Bachelorette in 2018 where she found love with Taite Radley. Two years later, Ali announced on Instagram that they had decided to go their separate ways. These days Ali’s a fitness and wellbeing guru living in Queensland – where she was spotted with a new mystery man in July. She’s also quite the influencer with an impressive 232,000 Instagram followers.

THEN: Ali Oetjen on The Bachelor in 2013. Picture: Network Ten

NOW: Ali Oetjen. Picture: Mark Cranitch

ANDREW HALL

Manoora farmer Andrew “Tex’’ Hall was 24 when he decided to search for the needle in the haystack that is a missus on Farmer Wants a Wife back in 2009. Thirteen years on Tex is living in happily ever after (life on the) land with his partner Taryn Mangelsdorf and their daughters Matilda, 8, and Sophie, four, and one-year-old son James. While we haven’t seen Andrew on another reality TV series, he’s gone on to bigger and better things – appearing in the 2011 movie Red Dog.

THEN: Andrew Hall on Farmer Wants A Wife in 2009.

NOW: Andrew Hall

GUY SEBASTIAN

You would have to have been living under a rock to not know about the ‘Fro and where he’s at. But seeing as he’s our most famous reality TV success story, no list would be complete without him. Our Guy became a household name in 2003 as the inaugural winner of Australian Idol. Almost 20 years later, he is now a superstar recording and live artist, who has also been a judge on reality TV – most notably on The Voice. Guy has also married his childhood sweetheart, Jules, and the couple have two sons, Hudson and Archie.

THEN: Guy Sebastian fin 2003. Picture: Sarah Rhodes

NOW: Guy Sebastian. Picture: River Bennett

AMITY DRY

Can it really be two decades since Amity Dry made a name for herself on The Block? Because she doesn’t look like she’s aged a day. In 2003, singer Amity appeared on the home reno show – and had a hit song, The Lighthouse – and became a household name. After that gig she went back to her first love – performing and writing cabaret shows such Mother, Wife and the Complicated Life. While she made a reality TV comeback in 2013’s The Block All Stars, Amity’s pivoted: In 2020, when the pandemic hit, Amity decided to become a real estate agent and she hasn’t looked back.

“As a real estate agent, my favourite thing is connecting with my clients and making a difference in their lives, she told The Tiser, adding: “It’s a hard career to juggle and while I will continue to perform on the side, when I can, I am fully engaged and focused on real estate”.

THEN: Amity Dry was a contestant on The Block in 2003.

NOW: Amity Dry

JAMIE REILLY

Back in 2008 a fresh-faced Jamie Lee represented SA on series four of Australia’s Next Top Model. Touted as “one of the hottest contestants” on the supermodel search she was already a catwalk queen having been discovered as a teen by leading model agent Tanya Powell. Fast forward to 2022 and she is now Mrs Reilly; Jamie married former Crow Brent Reilly, who is now the general manager SANFL’s South ­Adelaide Football Club, in 2013. The couple have two gorgeous children – Jax and Remi – and Jamie is now pretty much the No 1 A-lister in Adelaide and one of its top social media influencers with close to 29,000 followers on Insta.

Fun fact: Jamie’s also frequently featured on our best-dressed lists including the one compiled during ADL Fashion Week.

THEN: Jamie Lee in 2008 when she was a contestant on Australia's Next Top Model. Picture: Adam Ward

NOW: Jamie Reilly

JO ASHTON

Before she was on Big Brother in 2003, Jo was a lawyer and model here in Adelaide.

After her stint on BB, Jo, who was working as a solicitor on the Gold Coast, had a lead role in a teen comedy movie, Meat Pie, centring around a Wagga Wagga B & S ball. Her castmates included Muriel’s Wedding’s Gabby Millgate, 28 Days, Fat Pizza’s Johnny Boxer and Austen Tayshus. Married to hubby Ross Hams since 2008, Jo is now a mum-of-three loving family life on the Gold Coast.

THEN: Jo Ashton when she was a Big Brother housemate in 2003.

NOW: Jo and her husband Ross Hams. Picture: Facebook

SALLY POLIHRONIS

One of Adelaide’s original reality TV stars, Sally became an overnight sensation as a member Bardot, who had six hit singles – including Poison and ASAP – plus double-platinum and gold albums. It all started in 1999 when she auditioned for Popstars – which aired in 2000 – and suddenly found herself in the all-girl group alongside Sophie Monk. Now married and a mum to two girls, Sally, who also looks like she hasn’t aged a day, now lives in Sydney. Family, music and wellbeing are her passions these days, but after Bardot she went on to work behind the scenes in production and management for live television events.

Fun fact: Sunday Mail stylist Mirella Romano dressed Bardot back in the day.

THEN: Sally Polihronis is front and centre in Bardot in 2000.

NOW: Sally Polihronis. Picture: Facebook

TREVOR BUTLER

Okay, so he isn’t from Adelaide, but Broken Hill’s just over the South Australian-NSW border, runs on SA time and reads The Tiser religiously, so we can claim him. Fijian-born Trevor, who grew up in the Silver City, famously won series four of Big Brother in 2004, popping the question to his then girlfriend Breea Forrest on live TV. And, yes, she said yes. Trevor was the first Aussie to win a cool $1m on the series. These days, Trevor and Breea – and their sons, Maika and Creedance – are living in Queensland where he hosts a radio show on the Gold Coast. Earlier this year he made a return to reality TV, appearing on Big Brother’s Fans Vs Favourites.

THEN: Trevor Butler proposing to his girlfriend Breea Forrest after winning Big Brother in 2004.

NOW: Trevor Butler. Picture: Glenn Hampson

AND THEN THERE’S …

GRACE BAWDEN

The opera singer, who wowed the judges on Australia’s Got Talent and was in demand for gigs around town including Carols by Candlelight, is now on the local government campaign trail: Grace is hoping to become a City of Salisbury councillor.

Grace Bawden in 2008.

Nathan Strempel in 2008.

NATHAN STREMPEL

An intruder in the Big Brother house in 2008, the then physiotherapist had already had a reality TV experience as an Australian Idol hopeful. These days Nathan’s a professional Master of Ceremonies, who is based in NSW has been working part-time as a schools partnership officer for Charity Bounce since 2020.