They snack on lollies and drool over the cheese platter. Each has their own dressing room and you can often hear Jason strumming his guitar. They disagree about the talent, but so far that hasn’t made it on to the TV. And while we’re watching her, Rachel Hunter is watching us on Twitter. “Anyone who’s a bully or a pain I block – but I love getting constructive criticism,” she says. “I get involved that way.”
As our top-rating TV talent show, New Zealand’s Got Talent, enters its semi-finals this week, the Weekly got an up close look at what happens behind the scenes when an army of makeup artists, stylists, producers, technicians, talent coordinators and warm-up guys wrangle an hour of great TV out of hours of performances.
Guiding the tour was Rachel, who towers over her fellow judges Jason Kerrison and Ali Campbell thanks to her natural height – and seven-inch heels. “When I stand up and clap, I’m huge,” she laughs. “Yes, the guys are tall but my heels are huge. Hey – it’s fashion. A girl’s gotta do what she has to do, right?”
Fashion takes centre stage too when the cameras are on – Rachel has been wearing a range of Kiwi designers, from Kate Sylvester and Yvonne Bennetti through to her favourite Helen Cherry red top. “I’ve been tweeted a lot about the clothes,” she says. “Who’s gold jacket is that? Where did I get that top from? The way (the stylists) put me together is amazing.”
While many viewers have been surprised at the talent on offer, Rachel says she knew it was going to be a great show. “I always had complete faith in what New Zealand has to offer as a country – it baffles me that others think otherwise.”
Though they didn’t know each other before auditions began in July, Rachel, Jason and Ali have become a tight team. “Jason and Ali are great guys,” she says. “They are so individual. Ali has a real presence – when he’s moved by something, you can see it. Jason’s very intellectual and insightful. They’re really different characters but both fun and fantastic to get on with.”
Rachel says she knows some viewers were surprised by her personality on the show – her enjoyment of the acts is infectious and she’s as ready to jump up on stage and dance as host Tamati Coffey is.
“The camera can’t hide your personality after a while,” she says. “You’re going to be who you are, and that’s who I am. I’m honestly really enjoying it. I’m having fun just like everyone else does.”
