Call me a cynic if you will, but I’m wondering if all the bickering between the Australian Idol judges is just another shameless grab for ratings.

Last week, Marcia “I am Switzerland” Hines threatened to quit the show before the next series because of tension with fellow judge Mark “Touchdown” Holden.

"I'm leaving (because) I don't like being in company that don't like me, Mark,'' she said in a radio interview.

The comments came after the episode in which she clashed with Holden and Ian “Dicko” Dickson over their criticism of contestant Ben McKenzie, who ended up being evicted last Monday.

Dicko called Marcia “Thumper” after she slammed her fist on the desk in anger. (Sorry, Marsha, but it was funny.)

Later in the week, Holden turned on Dicko, blaming him for the show’s slump in ratings. He reckons there should only be three judges and that Dickson lacks commitment and will be goney goo goo as soon as he gets a better offer.

Then we tune in to last night’s Judges’ and Idols’ Choices show and it was just one big love-in.

The judges were all massaging each other’s egos over their various song choices – with the exception of Holden’s pick of Music of the Night for Matt Corby – and three contestants were awarded touchdowns.

To be fair, there were some standout performances. Natalie Gauci’s version of Rhianna’s Umbrella was impressive, Tarisai Vushe once again raised the roof with Can't get Enough Of Your Love, and Daniel Mifsud gave a convincing rendition of Sting's Fragile.

But even so, I reckon this season’s Idol is lacking excitement, hence my suspicion that the sparks flying between the judges is simply an effort to distract us from the lack of electricity on stage.

There was one revelation in last night’s show: I finally found myself agreeing with Kyle Sandilands on something. What were the wardrobe people thinking?

Tarisai and Natalie both looked like they had been squeezed into their unflattering frocks with a shoehorn, and some of the lads were wearing shirts that even Liberace wouldn’t have been seen dead in.

Perhaps Idol had borrowed Gretel Killeen’s wardrobe consultant for the evening …

— SUZANNE KEEN

How do you rate the Idol judges? If one had to go, who would you vote off?

Which contestant do you think will leave the show tonight?