IDOLS runner-up Lloyd Cele has revealed how he and his "best friend", winner Elvis Blue, decided to share the competition's R500,000 prize money shortly after they were announced as finalists
Cele, 28, a worship pastor from Phoenix, northern Durban, said even though he didn't win, the TV show had changed his life.
Blue, 30, whose real name is Jan Hoogendyk, and Cele initially discussed sharing the cash because they knew both of them stood a fair chance at the title.
They discussed the plan with their wives Chireze and Janice as well as the show's director, and the deal was sealed.
Blue received 64 percent of the 2,4 million votes, and Cele got 36 percent.
"The money deal was a mutual decision we had prior to the end of the show," he told The Times.
"We just never spoke about it because we wanted it to be between us and the few people concerned," Cele said.
Now Cele hopes to discuss his future with competition sponsor Universal Music to whom he is contracted for three months in terms of the Idols deal.
He intends to resign from his graphic design job. His wife Janice has resigned and intends to become his full-time manager.
"It's a decision we have made because I want to make this music career happen and be a musician, that is my and my wife's focus for now," he said.
Meanwhile Cele has been bombarded with questions about why his in-laws were the only family of his featured on the show.
Blue's family were filmed cheering him on, but when it came to Cele's family, only his wife Janice, 20-month-old son Levi Josh and her family were filmed with their message of support.
Cele said his family - particularly his businesswoman mother - was not available for filming.
"My mother is the breadwinner of the family because my stepfather has been ill."
Cele has been married for over three years. He said many of their neighbours have been critical of their interracial relationship.
"When I first met Jan the community had racial issues because they couldn't understand why we wanted to be together because of our skin colour," he said.
"People stare and make comments but we have grown strong and learnt to ignore what people say."
Cele dying to make music his career
IDOLS runner-up Lloyd Cele has revealed how he and his "best friend", winner Elvis Blue, decided to share the competition's R500,000 prize money shortly after they were announced as finalists
Cele, 28, a worship pastor from Phoenix, northern Durban, said even though he didn't win, the TV show had changed his life.
Blue, 30, whose real name is Jan Hoogendyk, and Cele initially discussed sharing the cash because they knew both of them stood a fair chance at the title.
They discussed the plan with their wives Chireze and Janice as well as the show's director, and the deal was sealed.
Blue received 64 percent of the 2,4 million votes, and Cele got 36 percent.
"The money deal was a mutual decision we had prior to the end of the show," he told The Times.
"We just never spoke about it because we wanted it to be between us and the few people concerned," Cele said.
Now Cele hopes to discuss his future with competition sponsor Universal Music to whom he is contracted for three months in terms of the Idols deal.
He intends to resign from his graphic design job. His wife Janice has resigned and intends to become his full-time manager.
"It's a decision we have made because I want to make this music career happen and be a musician, that is my and my wife's focus for now," he said.
Meanwhile Cele has been bombarded with questions about why his in-laws were the only family of his featured on the show.
Blue's family were filmed cheering him on, but when it came to Cele's family, only his wife Janice, 20-month-old son Levi Josh and her family were filmed with their message of support.
Cele said his family - particularly his businesswoman mother - was not available for filming.
"My mother is the breadwinner of the family because my stepfather has been ill."
Cele has been married for over three years. He said many of their neighbours have been critical of their interracial relationship.
"When I first met Jan the community had racial issues because they couldn't understand why we wanted to be together because of our skin colour," he said.
"People stare and make comments but we have grown strong and learnt to ignore what people say."
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