Ben Lummis

Teacher aide Ben Lummis morphed into a pop star after winning the first ever season of New Zealand Idol in 2004. His first single, 'They Can’t Take That Away', debuted at number one on the Kiwi charts and was the top-selling track of 2004. It also set a record for the most sales in a seven-day period, one that stood for eight years. After touring the country with fellow NZ Idol contestants, Lummis released his debut album One Road in mid 2004. NZ Idol turned its contestants into famous faces — the programme was New Zealand's most-watched TV show that year. Lummis continues to make music, releasing single 'Risen' in 2017.