Arab Idol
 | |
| Genre | Reality television |
|---|---|
| Format | Interactive singing competition |
| Created by | Simon Fuller |
| Presented by |
Annabella Hilal Abdallah El Tulehi (S1) Ahmad Fahmi (S2) |
| Judges |
Ragheb Alama Ahlam Hassan El Shafei Nancy Ajram (S2) |
| Country of origin |
 Arab World |
| Original language(s) | Arabic |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| Production | |
| Running time | Varies |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | MBC 1 |
| Original run | 9 December 2011 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Arab Idol Arabic: آراب أيدول, also called Arab Idol : Mahboub El Arab (Arabic: آراب أيدول : محبوب العرب), is an Arabic television show based on the popular British show Pop Idol created by Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment and developed by Fremantle Media. The first season premiered on December 9, 2011. The show was broadcast worldwide on MBC 1 and simultaneously aired on LBC. The live shows are recorded in Beirut, Lebanon. The second season debuted on 8 March 2013.
Background
Arab Idol is the successor of a previous pan-Arab rendition of the Idol series called Super Star, and that aired on Future TV for 5 seasons, beginning in 2003. MBC 1 expressed desire to revive the show in a revamped version. The concept is still the same: ten young contestants from all over the Arab world are selected after many auditions, and should perform a song on stage in front of the public and the judges on the main weekly show every Friday. Then there is a 24 hour time period during which the viewers can vote for their favorites by SMS. The one who receives the least amount of votes is eliminated during the results show, and this every week, until there is one left. The winner receives various prizes, including but not limited to a recording contract with Platinum Records (recording label affiliated with MBC) for a debut album, and a Chevrolet Corvette. The show was unveiled to the public on July 21, 2011 when MBC 1 began airing the first advertisement. The name was changed from Super Star to Arab Idol and a new logo was launched.
Season 1 (2011-2012)
The first season was hosted by Kuwaiti actor Abdallah Tulehi and Lebanese model Annabella Hilal. The judging panel consisted of
-
Ragheb Alama - Singer and composer -
Ahlam - Singer and composer -
Hassan El Shafei - Music producer, record producer and vocalist
On finale night, March 24, 2012, Carmen Suleiman from Egypt was crowned the winner of the first season of Arab Idol in a tough competition against Dounia Batma from Morocco.
Season 2 (2013)
The second season is hosted by Egyptian singer and actor Ahmed Fahmy and Lebanese model Annabella Hilal. The judging panel consisted of
- Ragheb Alama - Singer and composer
- Ahlam - Singer and composer
- Hassan El Shafei - Music producer, record producer and vocalist
- Nancy Ajram - Singer
The second season premiered on the 8th of March 2013.
On finale night, June 22, 2013, Mohammed Assaf from the State of Palestine was crowned the winner of the second season of Arab Idol in a tough competition against Farah Youssef from Syria and Ahmad Gamal from Egypt.[1][2][3][4]