The auditions round for the next season of Arab Idol are soon to take place, but which one of the judges will return?
Last season, Lebanese superstar Wael Kfoury joined Nancy Ajram, Ahlam and Hassan el Shafei on the judging panel, but rumor has it that Emirati singer Ahlam may not be coming back.
Could that really be? And what will it mean for the show's ratings?
Millions of the show's fans can probably not imagine the talent competition without its most controversial and attention-seeking judge Ahlam. The diva adds a completely different flavor to the show and attracts hundreds, if not thousands, of new viewers keen to watch her in action.
Ahlam is most notable for her never-ending bickering with former Arab Idol judge Ragheb Alama - the two were worse than Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh on The X Factor UK - whom she reportedly drove off the edge until he finally quit the show. But the truth is that Alama quit all because of MBC, and the same might be happening to his frenemy now!
Rumor has it that Ahlam demanded a ridiculously large amount of money to return for a fourth round, but MBC bosses are refusing to pay up, according to Al Watan Voice news.
It's not that filthy rich Ahlam needs the money, but in her mind she's key for the show's success, as she has been for its previous three seasons.
The singer, who refers to herself as "Queen Ahlam," is convinced that MBC would never turn down any of her requests. However, rumor has it that Ahlam's wage negotiations have reached a dead end, as the two cannot agree on one figure.
Does that mean that Ahlam will follow in Alama's footsteps and be forced to step down from the judging panel?
