This weekend, "Idol" is back on TV4 - from this year, moved from Fridays to Saturdays. And no longer with the usual introduction with audition programs scattered throughout the weekdays, with the qualifying final as the climax.
But the auditions are not scrapped. They are just repackaged - and become part of the Saturday programs.
In recent years, we have seen that the large number of episodes we have had early in the season has made it a bit harder to get into "Idol". Now we believe that by making a big weekend entertainment, the whole audience will have the opportunity to get in properly from the start, says TV4's channel and content director Fredrik Arefalk.
New jury
The jury is also partially new. Kishti Tomita and Alexander Kronlund have left and been replaced by Peg Parnevik and Avicii's manager Ash Pournouri, alongside Anders Bagge and Katia Mosally. "Idol" is also moving physically - this year's program will be broadcast live from Filadelfiakyrkan in central Stockholm.
The audition phase has always been important, but host Pär Lernström hopes that the new program format will provide the opportunity to tell more about the participants rather than showing hopeful artists who do not make the cut.
This thing about keeping on and scolding people on prime time because they can't sing... it feels like that time is over. So we think more, can we find real singers and songstresses?
Nostalgia
This year, it's 20 years since "Idol" was first broadcast and became a huge success immediately. A certain Darin came second in the final after winner Daniel Lindström. Behind them, Loreen came fourth.
Pär Lernström says that the anniversary will be marked in "Idol", but it must not take over. The new idols are the most important.
There is a legacy with artists who now belong to the elite in Sweden. It's a very fine part of the whole thing. And it's fun with the nostalgia, but then you want to focus on what's happening here and now.
"Idol" premiered in 2004, as TV4's response to "Fame factory" on TV3 and "Popstars" on Kanal 5. The first year featured artists like Darin, Loreen, and ultimate winner Daniel Lindström. Others who got their career boost from the program are Agnes, Måns Zelmerlöw, Danny Saucedo, Linnea Henriksson, and Hanna Ferm.
In 2012, TV4 scrapped "Idol" and instead broadcast "X factor" and "The voice", which did not attract nearly as many viewers. The year after, "Idol" was back again.
The program has been a reliable talent factory for Swedish music life. In the Melodifestivalen this year, half of the finalists, 6 out of 12, had a background from "Idol".
