Idols season 12 kicks off with big 'drama'

Durban – Season 12 of the popular singing competition, Idols kicked off with a bang on Sunday.

Before we get into the auditions there's that little matter of Gareth Cliff and his court case against M-Net. 

The show started off with a little insert and took the route of making light of the entire situation.

Watch it here:

With the elephant in the room addressed the episode went full steam ahead with the auditions. 

The coastal city of Durban managed to clinch 19 golden tickets.

Here's how things went down on the first episode. 

Things were off to a good start when Luke Tombola got the first golden ticket of the season. 

Lindokuhle Sithole impressed the judges with his soulful rendition. 

Just when we thought things were going well, Phumzile Washusha sang the first original composition of the season.

Deon Hlophe put his own spin on the Adele hit, Hello.

Thami Bhami tried really hard not to forget his lyrics.

And then there was this drama!  A nervous Nqobile Gumede fainted after her audition. She has since made a full recovery.

But the performance of the night goes to this "Classic Man", Confident Mbishoph.

Here's what Twitter had to say about the first episode. 

I just love #IdolsSA

— kennedy nyatoti (@KNyatoti) July 18, 2016

What I like this season about #IdolsSA is that #somizi had grown in terms of his decision making... Wow,,,impressive

— Letoya (@Letta555lee) July 18, 2016

Luke Ntombela perhaps the best ever opening of any season of Idols. #IdolsSA

— M U N G C O L O S I (@MuNgcolosi) July 17, 2016

If Durban has so much drama I just wonder wats gonna happen in PTA #IdolsSA

— Simon Thabang (@Analysis_50) July 17, 2016

#IdolsSA i am not impressed sorry. We want to see talent not Clowns ???????????????

— JG (Johan) van Zyl (@JGvanZyl_ZA) July 17, 2016