Dancing with the Stars: Who should join this year’s cast?

With news that former Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater turned down an approach by producers of Dancing with the Stars, now is probably a good time to think who could be in the running for the famous glitterball trophy.

Here are the picks from the Stuff entertainment team of who we’d love to see donning the sequins and impressing us with our moves.

Kim Hill

If she wasn’t a journalist, RNZ’s Kim Hill says she would be an actor. But not a dancing actor, nor a singing actor. No musicals for Kim Hill, and also no Dancing with the Stars? I think she could pull it off.

The broadcaster, known for her sometimes fiery appearances on Morning Report, and her probing and unexpected interviews on Saturday Morning, has an almost cult following on the wireless and among other journalists.

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She’s a brave questioner, despite saying she was “pathologically shy” as a child. She overcame that shyness and I have no doubt she would pick up dancing very quickly.

The best part of the show is watching people fall over, get back up, and unexpectedly become incredible dancers. The show typically goes for a Newshub presenter, a sports guy, an ACT politician and a repeat offender on reality television. I say, do something different this time. Bring Hill out of the morning and into prime time. First Dancing with the Stars, and then Kim Hill Tonight. – Glenn McConnell

Robyn Malcolm

My lob-a-grenade-in-the-middle-of-the-dancefloor-then-walk-off pick is pairing Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. That bombshell aside, I reckon a good choice for this year’s glitterball trophy contender and our collective hearts would have to be Robyn Malcolm.

She’s got plenty of time on her hands at the moment, as she’s currently in MIQ, having been admonished and put in the “naughty corner” after a scented candle was lit in her room, and officials took umbrage at how many bottles of wine she’d displayed.

The West family matriarch hasn’t left our consciousness since Outrageous Fortune ended all those years ago, and while she may have upset some with her comments over casting a female Gandalf in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings’ TV series, she’s become an outspoken advocate for body positivity and for women of all ages, thanks to her Lovely lingerie photoshoots and publicity campaigns.

In 2021, where else would be a better place to showcase her down-to-earth nature and winning charm? Plus the chance for producers to do an Outrageous Fortune or Westside themed episode would be too delicious to resist. – Darren Bevan

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has endless words of gratitude for the safe haven New Zealand has provided him and his family during the Covid-19 pandemic while the US actor filmed his latest project in Wellington.

But what about a gratuitous action that speaks straight to our hearts – volunteering for a spot on the next season of Dancing with the Stars?

Gordon-Levitt’s eternal boyish charms first won the world over in 3rd Rock from the Sun and Ten Things I Hate About You. He proved he wasn’t just a sweet, good-looking, romcom actor with films such as Inception and Snowden. And who could forget his best-efforts dance to You Make my Dream in that quirky scene from 500 Days of Summer after he finally sleeps with his on-off girlfriend Summer, played by Zoey Deschanel. I’m pretty sure he showed off his dance moves along the way, there.

All this would cast spells over judges and viewers alike. And he is married to robotics experts. What’s there not to love? – Serena Solomon

Jordan Watson

One of the great joys of Dancing with the Stars is seeing celebrities in a completely different context from the one we’re used to. Whether it goes horribly wrong or beautifully right, we love to see the ways they can surprise us when we get them out from behind the news desk, or off the sports field.

That’s why my nomination for this year’s competition is Jordan Watson, better known to you as How to Dad.

Watson has become World Famous in New Zealand (and elsewhere) by doing one thing: Being an idiot. In his mock-advice parenting videos, he comes across as bumbling, dopey and ineffectual.

The joke, of course, is that he is none of those things, but we haven’t had an opportunity to see the real Jordan Watson – until now, that is. A run on DWTS would have audiences rushing to the lounge to get a glimpse of the real (or at least different) How to Dad, and to see what he looks like dressed in something other than stubbies. – Emily Brookes

Wendy Petrie

Traditionally, there’s usually a famous face from the news-world on Dancing. Previously, it’s been twinkle toes and abs out from Newshub’s Mike McRoberts. And of course, there was also Samantha Hayes from, erm, NewsHub.

While we don’t have anything against the likes of Lloyd Burr flexing his muscles on the dance floor, or Melissa Chan-Green showing what moves she has, it would be nice to see if the makers of DWTS would cast their net a little wider than within its own four walls and attract some other news talent to sashay or salsa with the best. (Though perhaps with 20 years under her belt at Three, The AM Show’s Amanda Gillies could be a good bet….)

A potential outstanding choice would be TVNZ’s former 1News at Six anchor, Wendy Petrie.

Petrie’s got time on her hands now after she was unceremoniously dropped from the state broadcaster’s premium bulletin – and she’s also got form on the dance floor; she used to be a member of the Candy Lane Dancers troupe as part of the revolving team of back-up dancers. And she’s a known runner too, meaning that she’s got the fitness to carry off the demands of the dance floor again.

Since she’s been freed from behind the desk and able to take on other projects, she could possibly relish the chance to remind viewers of the range of her talents. – Darren Bevan

Who should take to the dance floor? Tell us in the comments!