Sacked from TV at 55, Mark Holden redesigned his life as a barrister

Mark Holden felt like he'd been "punched in the stomach" after being ditched from the best role of his life, but admits it was his experience in the music industry that helped forge a new career.

"I had no idea that it was coming," Holden, now 72, said.

"It was like a physical punch, and I kind of reeled from it ... and I mean, literally knocked me out."

While shaken by his unexpected firing, the star steeled himself and decided to take a year off to figure out his next move.

Holden had completed a law degree in the 1990s, and the year after he left TV he was admitted to the Victorian Bar as a barrister.

But he faced a steep learning curve while studying under barristers William Lye, a high-profile Melbourne lawyer and King's Counsel, and Phillip Priest (who went on to become a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria).

"I didn't know anything ... I knew nothing," he laughed.

"I would just constantly be going into their chambers, going, 'What do I do now? What's next? How do I do this?'"

But it was the ability to fight for the disenfranchised that motivated the push into unfamiliar territory.

"As a person in the management business, and with [managing] Vanessa [Amorosi], I like fighting for people," he said.

"I believe in social justice, so the idea of fighting for people appealed to me."

Then in his 50s, Holden went on to practise for 14 years before retiring in 2023.

The career shift may have come at a fortuitous time, when streaming platforms were growing in popularity and the way the industry made money began to break down.

Between 2000 and 2024, the revenue from new Australian music has plummeted from $386 million to $215 million, according to research from The University of Technology Sydney.

"The music business was really going through a terrible time," he said.

"The whole concept of what records and CDs are ... has been a massive disruption.

"[There's] been a decimation of copyright as everything becomes digitised."

While Australian Idol aired its 11th series in 2026, Holden says he just "can't watch it".

"It would be like watching your ex-wife's marriage to the next guy," he said. "No, I don't need to be at that ceremony."

But he looks back fondly on his time with the hit series which helped launch the careers of dozens of stars, including Shannon Noll, Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan and Jessica Mauboy.

"I loved it so much. I love musicians, I love singers, I love songs," he said.

"It was the best job I've ever had in my life. I'll never have a job again like it."

Holden spoke to The Senior following the release of Live At The George Ballroom, a 2005 live recording of his hits including Shine, which he co-wrote for Vanessa Amorosi, and '70s hits Never Gonna Fall in Love Again and Lady Soul.

Holden has also been working on two other archival releases of songs previously unavailable for streaming, including The 70s, a selection of the singer's hits, and A Tribute To Tex Morton, from his band The Holdens.

His new albums The 70s, Live At The George Ballroom, and A Tribute to Tex Morton, are available to stream on all major platforms, and through markholdenmusic.com