March 31st, 2009 11:41 am

James Mathison leaves ‘Australian Idol’

James Mathison leaves ‘Australian Idol’, after six years as co-host on the Network Ten series.

The Daily Telegraph is today reporting that James Mathison has left ‘Australian Idol’, after six years as co-host on the Network Ten series.

The 31-year-old hopes to pursue his own music interests as the guitarist for his band, The Punisherz.

“There is a part of me who has a little bit struggled with being ‘that guy from that thing’ and taking a step back totally allows you to do what you want to do without that scrutiny,” he said.

” [Music] is my main interest at the moment.”

“That is why I did the audition all those years ago and when I had a break after Idol last year I just had a real pull towards that initial love of working in music and interviewing bands, doing reviews. I love that stuff,” he said.

“For six years ‘Idol’ has been my life.

“You really don’t have time to do anything else. I might not have been the greatest friend to people because I had no time, so it would be cool to change that.”

One of the first people Mathison told of his departure was Andrew G, who he has worked closely with for over nine years.

“I had to follow my gut and I wanted new challenges,” he says.

The presenter also had to convince Network Ten, that he wasn’t planning to jump ship and sign with a rival network.

“I am not going to be on TV for a while now, not ‘Dancing With The Stars’ or anything like that. I just want to explore other music opportunities while I am here in New York and at home.”

Well, all I can say is, look forward to lots of boring awkward moments from Andrew G on ‘Idol’ this year, when it returns later in 2009.