Music In 1999 Whitehead was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts to study Jazz Improvisation, then toured Australia and China with various bands. He was originally a contestant on the first series of
Australian Idol in 2003. He failed to win the
competition but made it into the top twenty. After being spotted on Idol, he was hired to host the television music show,
Video Hits on
Network Ten, hosting from 2004 to 1 November 2006. He travelled the world interviewing artists such as Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Oasis and Duran Duran. In October 2006, Whitehead was sacked as TV presenter of
Video Hits after
exposing himself on stage during the
ARIA Music Awards. Whitehead's debut single "
I Don't Do Surprises" was released on radio during January 2008, debuting at No. 8 on the ARIA Charts in Australia on 17 March 2008. It also received airplay on Nova radio and surfaced on TV advertisements for popular
Channel 10 shows
House and ''
Women's Murder Club'', and Channel 7's
Home and Away, being described as a cross between
Coldplay and
Robbie Williams. His debut album,
Losing Sleep was mixed by UK mixer,
David Treahearn and released through Roadshow Music on 22 August 2008. Whitehead made his return to Video Hits on 24 February 2008, and to Australian Idol on 5 September 2008, though only as a guest to promote his debut album. The third single off
Losing Sleep, Satellite has received significant play on
Channel V and
Video Hits. Whitehead released the soul-country single "One Gun" in 2021.
Acting Whitehead's first acting roles were minor parts in the television series
The Secret Life of Us, and the 2003 film,
Ned Kelly. After taking acting lessons for eighteen months, Whitehead auditioned for a role in
Home and Away, which he described as "such a great place to learn and hone your skills". making his debut on 5 March 2009, Whitehead hosted
Seven Network's ''
The World's Strictest Parents. In 2010, Whitehead was short-listed to host The X Factor Australia, but lost out to fellow Home and Away'' colleague
Luke Jacobz. Whitehead departed
Home and Away in late 2012 to expand his acting career. He filmed his final scenes along with colleague
Luke Mitchell (
Romeo Smith). Whitehead moved to Los Angeles. After 18 months as an out of work actor, he landed a role in
season 5 of the series
Shameless. He played an Australian rock singer named Davis, a love interest of Fiona Gallagher (
Emmy Rossum). He appeared in the first four episodes of Season 5 and a brief appearance in Episode 8. In 2014, Whitehead was the runner-up for the Heath Ledger scholarship. In 2016, he played
J. T. James / Hellfire, a recurring role in
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. This role reunited him with
Home and Away star Luke Mitchell. In 2017, Whitehead began hosting Australian game show
The Wall, which is based on the U.S. show of
the same name. In 2021, Whitehead appeared on season three of
The Masked Singer Australia making it to the Grand Final and finishing in third place as "Mullet".
Cleo Bachelor of the Year On 22 April 2009, Whitehead was announced Cleo Bachelor of the Year, beating competition from sportsmen, actors and other personalities. Sarah Oakes, Cleo Editor-in-chief denied the claims that Whitehead won as a direct result of a self-marketing ploy; "[He] is that perfect combination of good looks, charm, charisma and the kind of guy you'd be really happy to take home and introduce to your mum." ==Personal life==