The Final eight Idol finalists battle againgst poor ratings

AUSTRALIAN Idol has been in the headlines during the past week - for the wrong reasons.

The talent contest has been battered by poor ratings, infighting between contestants and negative stories.

But the remaining eight singers are putting on a brave face.

They insist there have been no behind-the-scenes spats at the show's headquarters, a five-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion believed to cost $10,000 a week in rent.

"There's no real bitchiness, we actually all get along," says Victorian singer Natalie Gauci.

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Fellow contestant Ben McKenzie adds: "Nothing annoys me. You just go to your room and close yourself off if you need time to yourself, which is what everyone is doing."

That is is in stark contrast to the comments from eliminated rocker Mark Da Costa, at 28 the most experienced performer in the competition. He paid out on fellow contestants and judges after his dismissal.

He was particularly savage on Victorian Jacob Butler, saying he should have been sent packing.

'He did nothing for me," Da Costa said.

He also gave judge Mark Holden a backhander.

"Mark came up to me after the show and said I probably deserved (a touchdown)," he says. "Well, if that's the case, give me one."

Sportingbet Australia's CEO Michael Sullivan says that while Da Costa might have thought he didn't deserve to be eliminated, punters believed differently.

Although Butler was shortest price to be eliminated, Sullivan says he was ignored by punters while Da Costa was backed from $13 to $8.50.

Following Da Costa's elimination, heart-throb Matt Corby's odds to win tightened from $2.20 to $1.80.

"Corby's been well backed from the start," Mr Sullivan said.

Despite a close call this week, Butler is favourite to go next week - at $3.

Idol was battered last week in the ratings - on Sunday by the NRL final won by Melbourne Storm and by Seven's reality show, Border Security, on Monday.

This week doesn't look much brighter with Seven's ratings juggernaut Kath & Kim returning.

The other unwelcome news for Idol this week was a Channel 7 story about Sydney church Hillsong "hijacking" the show through the voices of Christian contestants McKenzie, Tarisai Vushe and Daniel Mifsud.

The report was slammed by Idol producers.

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