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TV with Thinus can exclusively break the shocking news that Liezel van der Westhuizen is leaving M-Net's Idols reality show immediately.
Several members of the production staff and the remaining contestants were completely shocked by the unexpected news of Liezel van der Westhuizen's immediate departure that's now sending shockwaves through the NeverMachine production. Sunday evening's Idols episode is recorded today at the Mosaiek Theatre where the news is spreading like wildfire under shocked crew members and the Idols contestants.
I can tell you that the Idols set is abuzz with this major shocker. According to on-set sources the severely marginalized Liezel van der Westhuizen who had to take a backseat this season when M-Net and NeverMachine decided to add co-host ProVerb this season and give him the lion's share of hosting duties, is leaving Idols immediately. ''There is like two lines telling viewers that Liezel is leaving Idols in Sunday night's show,'' a source tells me. ''There's absolutely no explanation of why,'' says another insider. ''Just something that she won't be with the show anymore. There's no goodbyes.''
With Idols judge Mara Louw doing double duty on M-Net and appearing in SABC2's Skwizas and Idols judge Randall Abrahams doing double duty on M-Net and appearing in SABC2's SA's Got Talent (and appearing on massive billboards for both broadcaster's shows), I'm told by insider sources that the pay broadcaster earlier this week suddenly seemed to develop a problem with Liezel van der Westhuizen continue to be an Idols co-host AND joining SABC3's new morning show from October.
Although I'm told by multiple sources that there's ''absolutely no animosity involved'', they all say that Liezel van der Westhuizen was apparently given an ultimatum days ago and that she was told choose: Idols or SABC3's new breakfast show . . . but not both. She was allowed to remain on Idols, if she decided to drop SABC3's new lifestyle breakfast show starting in October.
Her greatly reduced on-screen time in Idols where she was literally forced backstage to quip a few lines with the contestants, as well as SABC3's longterm production prospects for the new show (on a channel where she used to be a continuity presenter and anchored Lunchbox) is what most probably made Liezel van der Westhuizen's decision very easy. I'm told Liezel van der Westhuizen's last appearance in Idols will be this Sunday. She will immediately be cut from the show with ProVerb suddenly remaining as the sole Idols host - stopping M-Net's highly touted co-hosting plan dead in its tracks. Liezel van der Westhuizen won't appear in Tuesday's Idols Results Show on M-Net, the partner episode to Sunday's Idols show where another one of Sunday's contestants will be going home.
I'm awaiting word or comment from M-Net on this shocking Idols development.
