'Thrilled' Cliff to respond to court judgment after winning lawsuit

Johannesburg – Media personality Gareth Cliff will brief the press in Johannesburg on Saturday after he was reinstated as a judge on Idols.

This followed a ruling by the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday in his favour.

Judge Caroline Nicholls ordered that Cliff be reinstated as a judge on Idols.

Cliff was axed for making a comment about free speech in reaction to a racist tweet by KwaZulu-Natal estate agent Penny Sparrow.

Nicholls ordered M-Net to pay his legal fees.

The auditions for Idols 2016 are scheduled to start in Durban on Saturday.

Cliff lodged an urgent application in the court.

He wanted his job back and R25-million for defamation and breach of contract.

Cliff said he would hold a media conference to respond to the judgment in more detail, after saying he was "thrilled" with the outcome.