Shocker: Toby quits Australian Idol
" Australian Idol in 2009 has been a mostly ho-hum affair... until now.
Contestant Toby Moulton shocked audiences by announcing that he would step down from the competition at the start of the top 5 episode, which aired on Network Ten on November 1.
Apologising to his fans, the 30-year-old schoolteacher explained that he was stepping down because a career in music was not his passion. He thanked those involved in Australian Idol for his opportunity to appear in the series.
His departure leaves Hayley Warner, James Johnston, Nathan Brake and Stan Walker competing for the show's ultimate prize: a recording contract with Sony Music.
"[The remaining contestants] each have an enthusiasm and drive that I cannot match and I must step aside so that they have the best chance to prosper as young Australian artists," said Toby, reading from a prepared statement.
He added that his decision to leave was not a reflection on Australian Idol itself.
Idol host Andrew G revealed that had Toby not stood down, 19-year-old James would have been eliminated.
Toby will return for the Idol grand final, to be held at the Sydney Opera House on November 22."
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Primetime TV Guide
| Seven | 7:00 Home and Away | 7:30 Ghost Whisperer |
| 7TWO | 7:00 Most Shocking | 7:30 Fifth Gear |
| ABC1 | 7:00 ABC News | 7:30 The 7.30 Report |
| ABC2 | 7:20 Mr Bean with Rowan Atkinson | 7:31 The Reinventors |
| Nine | 7:00 Two and a Half Men | 7:30 Getaway |
| GO! | 7:00 Entertainment Tonight | 7:30 Frasier |
| TEN | 7:00 The 7pm Project | 7:30 Glee |
| One HD | 7:30 World's Strongest Man | |
| SBS ONE | 7:30 Luke Nguyen's Vietnam | |
| Seven | 8:30 Beauty and the Geek Australia | |
| 7TWO | 8:30 Stargate: Atlantis | |
| ABC1 | 8:00 Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage | 8:35 Surviving Mumbai |
| ABC2 | 8:00 Mumbai Calling | 8:30 Hungry Beast |
| Nine | 8:30 ARIA Awards 2009 | |
| GO! | 8:00 Seinfeld | 8:30 Seinfeld |
| TEN | 8:30 Rush | |
| One HD | 8:25 Sports Tonight: AFL Draft Update | 8:30 World Heli Challenge |
| SBS ONE | 8:00 Demetri's Castle | 8:30 Cooking in the Danger Zone |
| Seven | 9:30 The Amazing Race | |
| ABC1 | 9:35 Making Samson & Delilah | |
| ABC2 | 9:00 John Safran's Race Relations | 9:30 The Graham Norton Show |
| GO! | 9:30 Seinfeld | |
| One HD | 9:00 Sports Soup | 9:30 Sports Tonight |
| SBS ONE | 9:00 ADbc | 9:30 World News Australia |
| ABC1 | 10:35 Lateline | |
| ABC2 | 10:15 Spoons | 10:30 Billable Hours |
| GO! | 10:30 Drop Dead Diva | |
| TEN | 10:30 Ten Late Night News/Sports Tonight | |
| One HD | 10:00 UFC Wired | |
| SBS ONE | 10:00 The Walkley Awards | |
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5 Comments
You entered idol obviously for all the wrong reasons & now you've deprived someone else of a once in life time chance at fame & fortune. Moulton you SUCK!!!
Mybe at the time Toby did not realise that a career in music was not for him mybe he only sussed that out later although I do think he may have given someone else a decent chance had he stood down earlier although I live in the UK myself and therefore do not watch the show.
Not only has he denied someone else a fantastic opportunity he has also wasted the money of those who voted for him week in week out.
Thats quite harsh. Toby was very regretful towards his fans and fellow constants and as a fellow teacher (Im an early childhood teacher in NZ) I admire his decision and wholeheartdly back him in that. You are entiled to your opinion but if you have nothing nice to say about a man you have never meet, don't say anything becuase you look like the ignorant and bitter one. Toby spoke well, made a hard decision and has given James another chance. He could have kept going until he was ...
If a career in music was not Toby's passion, he should not have embarked upon the Idol experience in the first place or, at the very least, stepped down before this stage in the competition. He denied someone else a chance to learn and hone their craft. His withdrawal should not be seen as noble, simply selfish and ungrateful, despite the long-winded, sugar coated monologue he served up on Sunday night. This does cast a pall over Idol for this household at least - but not because Tob ...