CTV.ca | July 10, 2008 | For Immediate Release

Toronto, ON (July 9, 2008) - And then there were 10. Following performance episodes on Monday and Tuesday, the most uneven gender split of Canadian Idol Top 10 finalists yet was revealed tonight during the last semi-final results show of the season on CTV. Unfortunately, for the Canadian Idol Top 10 to be selected, six semi-finalists reached the end of their Idol journey: Marie-Pierre Bellerose, 25, Quebec City, QC; Katelyn Dawn, 19, Winnipeg, MB; Martin Kerr, 25, Edmonton, AB; Omar Lunan, 29, Scarborough, ON; Gary Morissette, 21, Fruitvale, BC and Oliver Pigott, 27, Toronto, ON all received the fewest votes and were eliminated from the competition.

The Canadian Idol Top 10 is comprised of two women and eight men, ranging in age from 17 to 28 who are poised to become household names this summer. From communities across the country, these 10 finalists represent Idol's most diverse and musically talented group of individuals. There are four competitors from Ontario, three from Alberta and one each from Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. And come this September, one of them will be the next Canadian Idol.

Meet the 2008 Canadian Idol Top 10:

Adam Castelli, 26, Hamilton, ON, Carpenter, Singer/Songwriter
Mark Day, 20, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, NL, Student, Respite Care Worker
Mitch MacDonald, 22, Port Hood, NS, Carpenter, Musician
Mookie Morris, 18, Toronto, ON, Musician
Sebastian Pigott, 25, Toronto, ON, Actor, Writer
Earl Stevenson, 23, Lloydminster, AB, Swamper for a Backhoe Operator
Katherine St-Laurent, 17, Otterburn Park, QC, Student
Theo Tams, 22, Lethbridge, AB, Student
Amberly Thiessen, 19, Seven Persons, AB, Student
Drew Wright, 28, Collingwood, ON, Musician, House Painter

After saying goodbye to their fellow Top 16 finalists, the elite Top 10 immediately begin rehearsing for next Monday's first Canadian Idol Top 10 show on July 14 at 8 pm ET, broadcast live from Toronto's John Bassett Theatre. Dedicated to the songbook of David Bowie, Monday's expanded 90-minute show will feature each of the Top 10 competitors performing a Bowie hit they have selected. Then, on Tuesday, July 15 at 8 pm ET on CTV, the first Top 10 elimination episode will reveal the single competitor earning the fewest votes.

** Media Note ** - Photography and audio clips from tonight's show are available online on the Canadian Idol Media Centre at www.idolpix.ca.

Backed by a live, 8-piece band with occasional horns and strings added to the mix, the Top 10 will perform in front of an audience of 1,000 screaming fans at Toronto's John Bassett Theatre in the first of nine, Top 10 performance shows next week.

Additional plans for the final phase of the Canadian Idol competition will soon be revealed.

Five years after its premiere season, Canadian Idol continues to hold the title of the most-watched, original Canadian series (English language) of all time.* One of the most innovative Idol formats in the world, Canadian Idol Season 6 continues to deliver an average of over a million viewers each week.

Canadian Idol was created by Simon Fuller and is produced in association with CTV by Insight Productions. John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are Executive Producers. Mark Lysakowski is Supervising Producer. Senior Producer is Sue Brophey. Jane Rimer is Executive Consultant for FremantleMedia. Ed Robinson is Executive Vice-President, Programming, CTV Inc. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

About 19 Entertainment:

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment is recognised as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful music based entertainment, or "entertainment brands". The company has attracted a unique collection of expertise in people who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording, artist / writer and producer management, sponsorship and promotion. Simon Fuller is the most successful British music manager of all time having sold over 116 million CDs in North America alone, and is known as the creator of "American Idol", the most valuable TV format in the world with an estimated value in excess of $2.5 billion.

About FremantleMedia:

FremantleMedia is one of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FremantleMedia has production offices in over 20 countries worldwide, providing local sales and production support for its international TV brands such as Idols and the world's longest running game show, The Price is Right.

The company's licensing operation, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. Fremantle International Distribution, the company's international distribution division licenses over 19,000 hours of programming to 150 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is the content arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. For further information please see FremantleMedia's website www.fremantlemedia.com.

About CTV:

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

*Since the advent of electronic measurement in Canada.