Heinz Winckler does SA proud
2004-01-02 19:50
Abigail Isaacs
Cape Town - South Africa's Heinz Winckler made his country proud this week when he took fourth place in the World Pop Idol competition, held in London.
Heinz was one step ahead of Britain's hugely popular Idol, Will Young, who came in fifth.
The overall winner was Norwegian plumber Kurt Nilsen. In second place was American Idol Kelly Clarkson.
Belgian Peter Evrard was third. Eleven contestants took part.
Residents of 11 countries were able to vote, although they were not allowed to vote for their country's Idol contestant. The contest was broadcast to 20 countries on Christmas Eve.
For the top four, it was a close contest. Evrard beat Heinz by only three points, while the difference between winner and second place was only nine points.
But Nilsen, the winner, came under sharp criticism by some of the judges.
Razor-tongued Australian judge Ian Dickson told Nilsen: "You have the voice of an angel, but you look like a hobbit. You would be a wonderful Idol from Middle Earth."
- Die Burger