Three have been drip-feeding announcements about contestants for the re-booted version of Dancing With The Stars New Zealand.
Act party leader David Seymour and Real Housewives of Auckland’s Gilda Kirkpatrick were the first announcements made in February. Last week, radio host Robert Rakete and amputee model Jess Quinn were named, closely followed by Maori party co-leader Marama Fox and former Black Cap Chris Harris.
Last night they made their biggest casting announcement to date – Newshub anchor Samantha Hayes. Forgotten amongst the excitement of Hayes was The Rock DJ Roger Farrelly.
Sam is no stranger to dressing up. She wears sequins well, and who can forget the captain’s outfit she sashayed down the catwalk in for Kathryn Wilson’s fashion show in Queenstown last year.
With her Newshub wardrobe rather conservative of late, we’re looking forward to her rocking some more daring outfits.
“Who doesn’t love being embarrassed in public?” Sam joked about her new venture. “I do love a good challenge!”
All contestants dance for a charity, and Sam has chosen the New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association.
“I grew up riding horses and teaching children to ride. NZRDA work with 3,000 people with disabilities every week. They set goals and through education, therapy and fun are really able to help them. They have a waiting list and want to reach many more people and change more lives and I’d love to help them do that,” she said.
But where are the rest of the big name signings?
Now To Love understands that former Bachelor Zac Franich is one of the celebrities yet to be announced. The surf lifesaving coach and current squeeze to Erin Simpson is already in full rehearsal mode for the show.
While Sam is a fan of dressing up, Zac is equally as comfortable dressing down, if his steamy photoshoot for Woman’s Day is anything to go by.
When he was announced as The Bachelor, the former Olympic kayaking hopeful stripped for a series of racy photos – all in aid of finding his dream girl, of course.
We’re just going to leave those images here…
Imagine some sequins on the pants.
And maybe some gold tassels on his shirt.
Viewers got a glimpse of his dancing skills early on in The Bachelor when he took hopeful Bachelorette Claudia for a spin on the dance floor.
Things got heated, and it resulted in Zac delivering the first on-screen kiss of the season.
With some expert instruction, we think he could be a real contender. He’s certainly got the physique for some of the big lifts that are often lacking on the show. Cue Patrick Swayze Dirty Dancing moment.
With twelve stars in total for this season, and eight already officially announced, we look forward to seeing who the next signings will be. Surely there’s got to be a Married at First Sight NZ participant in there somewhere, right?
Watch this space!
