Last year Kiwi comedy queen Laura Daniel wowed us with her incredible moves and skill on the dance floor and cemented her place as one of the firm favourites of 2019’s season of Dancing With The Stars NZ.
The Grand Finale could’ve gone either way and while her and dance partner Shae Mountain just missed out on nabbing the coveted mirror ball trophy, coming runner-up to former Warriors player Manu Vatuvei and his dance partner Loryn Reynolds, she’s back for more – this time switching her dancing shoes for the judges’ table for the 2020 season of the reality TV show.
Of her new role as a judge on the show Laura says: “I made it no secret that I absolutely love this show and what it brings out in people. It’s a real honour to be involved in another season of sequins and spray tans but this time without having to put myself through the same intense physical torture.”
“I’m looking forward to supporting this year’s stars through their journeys and giving them constructive feedback as they face their biggest challenge… trying not to smooch their hot pro dancer,” she jokes.
Laura and her DWTS dance partner Shae Mountain.
During her time on the show last season Laura confessed she had wanted to be on DWTS since she was a little girl, and said being asked to join the cast had been a “dream come true”, so there’s no doubt she’ll be pinching herself again about her new role.
Hosted again by dynamic duo Sharyn Casey and Dai Henwood, Laura will join head judge Camilla Sacre-Dallerup and Julz Tocker on the judge’s panel. The announcement comes just one week after now former DWTS judge Rachel White shared she is expecting her first child with her husband Stuart White.
In a statement about Laura’s return to the show, executive producer Hayley Cunningham said: “We are thrilled to have Laura joining Camilla and Julz at the judges’ desk this season.
“There’s no denying Laura wowed the audiences last year with her skill on the dance floor and we are looking forward to her bringing her unique style, glamour and of course, wicked sense of humour to the judges’ line up this year.”
It’s already shaping up to be a big year for the two-time Billy T award nominee, who has been a regular fixture on our screens as part of the casts of Funny Girls and Jono & Ben and a regular guest on 7 Days.
Earlier this year she announced she was also joining the Seven Sharp team as a special correspondent, stepping in for Tamati Rimene-Sproat who has moved to TVNZ 1’s Sunday on a six-month placement.
Speaking of her new role as special correspondent earlier this year, the popular comedian joked: “Back in 2013 I had my first ever job for television. Seven Sharp hired me for a one-off gig where I was an undercover actor wearing a fake pregnant belly and asking people to light my cigarette.
“It’s obviously still a career highlight to this day, and I guess I thought of that as somewhat of an audition so am stoked that seven years later, they’ve remembered my greatest work and I’ve secured a spot on the team.”
Dancing With The Stars NZ returns to Three later this year.
