NZ Idol wildcard named

Ben Hazelwood

And the NZ Idol wildcard winner is...?

The Herald on Sunday can exclusively reveal that Wellington High School student Ben Hazelwood will tonight be unveiled as NZ Idol's wildcard winner - joining the other nine finalists in Idol's top 10.

After dipping out in the elimination rounds, Ben, 25-year-old customer services representative Lenken Issac and 23-year-old Papakura radio employee Wiremu Hohaia were given a second chance by the Idol judges in the wildcard round. After performances last Sunday, Hazelwood was the popular choice and will now go on to compete for theIdol crown.

For the 17-year-old it was a bolt from the blue. "I couldn't believe it. Last week was such a roller-coaster of emotions. I was in, then I was out - and then I was in again," he said.

"I couldn't believe it when I was told I had won the wildcard. I had to ring the judges back to make sure they weren't taking the mickey."

If good genes have anything to do with Idol success, Hazelwood should go far in the competition. His mother is a dance teacher and his father an accomplished singer.

Hazelwood is lead singer of the band Philharmonic, which came third in the Wellington Rock Quest, and he teaches hip-hop at a Wellington studio.

He says his ultimate goal is a music career. He hopes Idol will be a springboard for that, but he's realistic about the challenges. "Getting to the end would be great, but I just want to stay in the competition as long as possible.

"It's going to be tough - there are so many good singers," he said. "It's up to the winner to make their own luck and push things as far as they can."

Meanwhile, Centerbet's latest odds have reinstated Clinton Randell as the favourite to take the title, with odds of $3.75.

Last week's favourite, Indira Moala, has slipped back to odds of $4, followed by Rebecca Wright at $5.50.

Tonight's wildcard show screens on TV2 at 7.30pm.