SHANNON NOLL & COSIMA DE VITO IDOLS REUNITED!

Once rivals for the top spot, they've always had each other's backs

- Phillip Koch

When Cosima De Vito quit Australian Idol live on TV during the semi-finals in 2003, it was one of those TV moments that stopped the nation and left a shocked Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll to fight out the grand final.

More than three million fans tuned in to see the 22-year-old Guy take the top prize, leaving Cosima fans crushed. Even then-judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson declared she should have been crowned.

That Cosima, now 47, was forced to leave because throat nodules threatened to rob her of her voice was almost forgotten as outraged fans fuelled conspiracy theories and sparked rumours of bad blood between Shannon and Cosima.

Viewers were left wondering if Shannon got more votes than Cosima after Guy was announced as one of the two grand finalists. But Cosima's shock exit meant Shannon went straight through whether or not he had the votes.

CONTROVERSIAL END