Anthony Callea hopes the Australian Idol sticks to original format

As Australian Idol gears up for a reboot, runner-up Anthony Callea has issued a plea to producers to ensure the remake doesn’t flop.

Singers Anthony Callea and Bonnie Anderson are releasing a new single, a remake of the classic Together Again. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Anthony Callea says he hopes the Australian Idol reboot stays true to the format of the show which helped launch his career.

Idol, which was a huge success on Network 10 for seven years until 2009, is being rebooted by Channel 7 in 2022. Callea came second to Casey Donovan in 2004.

“I loved the essence of that show so much, that three and a half months I was part of it, and it gave me the most amazing platform and 17 years down the track I still get to wake up each day and call myself a singer and do what I love,’’ Callea said.

“I really hope that they honestly keep that backbone and that essence to the show and they don’t try to make it something that’s it’s not. Why try to change something that’s not broken?

“The show was rating two million plus each and every Sunday.

“It created a new path into entertainment and into the music industry and it’s established so many sustainable artists that are still working to this day.”

Anthony Callea on Australian Idol in 2004

Donovan and Callea.

Callea has just released a new collaboration with Neighbours star and The Masked Singer winner Bonnie Anderson. The modern cover of the Janet Jackson hit, Together Again, is intended to be a summer anthem.

“I wanted to do a fresh take on this track for a very long time and I feel as though now in particular the sentiment behind this track is more important than ever,’’ said Callea, who kicks off his The Together Again tour next May/June and has added a third show at The Palms at Crown.

“I love Bonnie to death, we’ve shared stages over the years but we’ve never recorded a song together.”

Anderson said: “It was Anthony’s idea and he sent me a message and he said I want to put this song out as a duet and I want to do a revamp of it. I thought I’m going to jump at this opportunity because being able to go back into the studio together, it was so nice to be able to do that. We’ve got so many other little surprises along the way.”