Arab Idol Season 3 is set to begin on September 5, with an improved winning formula and a new face on the judging panel.

The popular Arab takent-spotting show will start with a bang as thousands of contestants churn out their best notes in the hopes that celebrity judges - Wael Kfoury, Nacy Ajram, Ahlam and Hassan El Shafei, will choose them to progress to the next round, said  a statement.

The Audition Tours this year also included a visit to Berlin, Paris, Algeria and Palestine for the first time.

This phase of the show is followed by the Live Theatre Auditions before the semi-finals kick in.

The votes will then be turned over to the audience, who can not only choose their favourite Idol but, in another first for the show, will be able to engage in a weekly chat with contestants through the Arab Idol digital application (App).

The season will also see an all-new ‘extras’ section added to the programme, while the winner will walk away with a record label, said the statement.

The show will be featured on MBC1 and MBC MASR, it added. - TradeArabia News Service