The nationwide search for a singing super-star starts tonight! Australian Idol is back and already breaking records with thousands of hopefuls turning up to audition across the country. We'll show you the good, the bad and the very delusional in their quest to become the next Australian Idol. Featuring Marcia Hines, Mark Holden and newcomer Kyle Sandilands as the judges. Hosted by Andrew G and James Mathison.

The judges continue their journey to find Australia's next Australian Idol in Perth and Adelaide.

The judges travel to Sydney and Townsville on their quest to find the next Australian Idol.

The judges make their final stops for auditions to find the next Australian Idol.

This showed the first and second day of the top 125 in Sydney being cut down by over half.

Third and final day of the pre finals in Sydney. To judges go one-on-one with all the remaining contestants to find the top 24.

The first group of six boys perform.

The verdict for the first group of six boys followed by the performances of the first group of six girls.

The verdict for the first group of girls followed by the performances of the second group of six boys.

This show begins with the verdict for the second group of six boys followed big erformances of the last group of six girls.

The verdict for the final group and the announcement of the wildcard contestants.

The Wildcards perform for the final four positions in the Top 12 of Australian Idol 2006.

The final four positions in the Top 12 are announced.

The 2006 Final 12 battle it out for a place in Australia's hearts in the first finals this year. This week, it's the Idols choice as to what song they perform.

Australia says a teary-eyed goodbye to Joseph Gatehau, who is the first finalist to leave the show in 2006.

The Final 11 contestants perform a song from the Rock genre.

Another finalist must leave the competition.

Tonight the contestants perform a song that was number one on the Australian music charts.

Another finalist must leave the competition.

Tonight the contestants perform songs from the year in which they were born.

Time for the Verdict for the final 9 contestants.

Tonight the contestants peform a song form the Disco genre.

Another finalist must leave the competition.

In a world first for Idol, contestants are given the choice to play an instrument during thier performance.

The contestants sing a song of their choice without the usual weekly routine.

The saxophones, trumpets, trombones, harp, and rhythm section are back for another year. The Final 6 perform.

Dreams of fame and fortune crumble for one hopeful.

Tonight the Final 5 perform songs from artists who have been inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame.

One more Idol must leave the competition.

The hopefuls are down to four, and this week you get to choose what the Idols sing. With only a couple of weeks left in the competition, they'll be pulling out all stops to prove their star potential.

One Idol must leave the competition. Who will the Australian public decide is not the 2006 Australian Idol?

The judges get so chose what the final 3 will be singing for the last time at the normal stage for this year. Each contestant will sing 2 songs each.

The big verdict before the massive 2006 grand final is here which will decide who the final 2 will be to perform at the Opera House is a few weeks.

The two singers left in the quest for fame take to the stage for their chance at becoming recording stars. They sing thier own choice of song and the winners single.

Everything comes to an end and like the other seasons, season 4 must have just one winner. There are more performances by previous Idols and the final 12 at the Opera House and the public must come to a decision. Will Jess or Damien win Australian Idol 06?