Australian Idol stars Ricki-Lee Coulter, Amy Shark and Marcia Hines stepped out for lunch in Sydney with new judge Morgan Evans following Kyle Sandilands' departure.
The television stars made the most of the perfect weather on Wednesday as they arrived at Woolloomooloo for a long lunch at Italian restaurant Otto.
The outing comes as country music star Morgan Evans is set to replace Kyle Sandilands on the hit reality television singing competition, following the radio titan's exit from the Channel Seven program.
Host Ricki-Lee Coulter, alongside panellist Amy Shark and incoming judge Evans, appeared in high spirits as they walked down the Finger Wharf waterfront dining precinct in Sydney Harbour.
Australian Idol, which first aired in 2003, is one of Australia's highest-profile reality television talent competitions. The show returned to screens in 2023 on Channel Seven following a long hiatus.
Star Styles on the Finger Wharf
Amy Shark cut a casual figure as she made her way down the Finger Wharf in a crisp white button-up shirt paired with classic blue jeans.
The 40-year-old indie pop singer completed her Canadian tuxedo look with a matching denim jacket and carried a black bag slung over her shoulder.
Shark styled her hair by scraping her dark locks back off her face, tying them into a topknot for the sunny afternoon lunch.
Shark, born Amy Louise Billings, is an ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her hit single Adore and her successful indie pop albums.
Ricki-Lee Coulter dressed for the winter weather in an all-black ensemble consisting of a T-shirt and wide-legged trousers.
The 40-year-old television presenter added to her moody get-up with her beloved black trench coat and matching designer shades to hide her famous face.
Coulter appeared to take her hairstyling cues directly from Shark, also scraping her brunette locks back off her face and tying her hair into a topknot.
Coulter first rose to national fame as a contestant on season two of Australian Idol in 2004 before establishing a solo music career and becoming a major television host.
The judges sauntered together in the sun and enjoyed a giggle on their way to join fellow panellist Marcia Hines at the restaurant.
Country Style and Spring Fashion
New judge Morgan Evans was all smiles in a rodeo-ready get-up featuring a brown flannel shirt paired with blue jeans and brown boots.
The 41-year-old country crooner also got the designer shade memo, hiding his eyes behind brown sunglasses during the walk.
Evans, a country singer-songwriter originally from Newcastle, New South Wales, has achieved international success with chart-topping country music singles in Australia and the United States.
At one point during the gathering, Evans was seen exiting the legendary Woolloomooloo lunch spot to take a phone call outside.
Marcia Hines looked ready for spring, commanding attention in a bright yellow jacket paired with classic blue jeans.
The 73-year-old icon added to her casual fit with a classic white handbag, allowing her famous voluminous locks to take centre stage.
Hines, an American-born Australian national treasure, is an ARIA Hall of Fame inductee who served as an original judge on Australian Idol during its initial television run from 2003 to 2009.
The dining venue, Otto Ristorante, is situated on Sydney's historic Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo, a popular dining destination for local and visiting celebrities.
Activist Campaign and Show Exit
The judges' gathering follows the departure of veteran radio personality Kyle Sandilands, who was forced to quit Australian Idol after online activist group Mad F**king Witches targeted potential advertisers of the Channel Seven show.
The feminist group targeted Sandilands' corporate sponsors for years while he was broadcasting on KIIS FM, accusing his radio show of violent misogyny, crude remarks and offensive on-air content.
Sandilands told The Sydney Morning Herald in July that he decided to step down from Australian Idol to prevent further damage to the commercial performance of the program.
"I spoke with Channel Seven this morning, and those activists have attacked the potential clients for Australian Idol or the clients from last year, and this has caused a problem in Channel Seven's sales team," he said.
"So I've told Channel Seven this morning, just prior to speaking to you, that I'm standing down from Idol for the good of the brand to continue," Sandilands added.
Sandilands is a prominent Sydney shock jock best known as the long-time co-host of the breakfast radio broadcast The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
Sandilands History on the Panel
Sandilands first joined Australian Idol in 2005 for its third season, replacing original judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson on the judging panel.
He remained on the show for four seasons until network Channel 10 rested the popular reality television franchise in 2009.
When Channel Seven rebooted the singing contest in 2023, Sandilands returned to the panel alongside international judges Harry Connick Jnr and Meghan Trainor, as well as Amy Shark.
Following his exit from Australian Idol, Sandilands recently launched his new independent streaming project, titled Kyle Sandilands Live.
