And the winner is... Gareth Cliff!

The High Court in Johannesburg ruled on Friday that Cliff must be reinstated as a judge on Idols with immediate effect.

The controversial radio presenter was dismissed by M-Net earlier this month after he suggested in a tweet that people who made racist comments should not be criminally charged as their comments are merely freedom of speech.

His reps said he was unfairly dimsmissed.

This action prompted Cliff to take M-Net to court. He was also suing the channel for R25-million, but that claim has been dropped following his reinstatement as a judge.

BREAKING #GarethCliff Nicholls says Cliff must be reinstated as a judge and M-Net must pay costs of application.

— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 29, 2016

Gareth after that ruling was made...

Image credit: M-Net