KEY POINTS:
We bet they look good on the dancefloor. Meet the contestants in the third series of Dancing with the Stars, which screens on TV One on Tuesday at 8.30pm.
We asked 1000-plus readers of nzherald.co.nz who they liked most of the line-up:
APRIL IEREMIA
Partner: Csaba Szirmai
CV: Way back when, April was a netball star. Then she started covering sports events on the news, turning up in the odd reality show, and competing on Treasure Island where she wore headscarves with aplomb.
Reader approval rating: 24 per cent
If April wins, she'll go all out in a reality-tele-women's-mag-talkshow-gossip-blogger binge. If she doesn't win, she'll go all out in a reality tele-women's mag-talkshow-gossip-blogger binge. Either way, you'll be seeing a lot of her.
FRANK BUNCE
Partner: Krystal Stuart
CV: Former All Black royalty (he's a descendant of King George III), NZ Sevens player, TV and radio personality, including a stint on Celebrity Treasure Island.
Reader approval rating: 21 per cent
Well, the obvious thing would be to call him this year's Norm Hewitt. But can he live up to last year's runner-up? His paso doble is bound to be suitably bull-like but given he's renowned for his crunching tackles, Krystal may have to invest in sturdier shoes.
MICHAEL LAWS
Partner: Lauren De Boeck
CV: Writer, broadcaster, talkback host, Celebrity Treasure Island contestant, Mayor of Wanganui.
Reader approval rating: 7 per cent
His broken toe and a new, gaunt physique may have Lauren undertaking all the fancy lift manoeuvres. Which means we'll definitely be voting to keep him in the competition. However, he probably won't be consulting his thriller novel, Dancing with Beelzebub.
GREER ROBSON
Partner: Aaron Gilmore
CV: Former child actor (Smash Palace), turned film actor and Shortland Street star, who, like last year's contestant Angela Bloomfield, has two kids who may get constant shout-outs.
Reader approval rating: 17 per cent
Greer won Celebrity Treasure Island in 2004, is paired with last year's winning dancer and got a taste of the real world when she worked as a lawyer. So even if she can't say why she likes ballroom dancing, at least she's got a life to go back to if it turns out ballroom dancing doesn't like her.
SUZANNE PAUL
Partner: Stefano Olivieri
CV: Infomercial queen turned failed cabaret Maori village owner, now on the comeback. Kia ora!
Reader approval rating: 10 per cent
Possibly lacking subtlety in her foxtrot, Suzanne will more than make up for it by dazzling with a dress made of thousands of luminous spheres, and embarking on a stunning sales campaign to win your vote. See her at a shopping mall near you.
BRENDAN PONGIA
Partner: Hayley Holt
CV: Played basketball with the Tall Blacks for nearly a decade. Went courtside in front of the camera before getting the job co-hosting TV One's Good Morning show.
Reader approval rating: 8 per cent
This year's Shane Cortese is tall, athletic and masculine. But whether he needs to use the contest as a dating service like Shane did remains to be seen - but he and Hayley do look quite nice together don't they? Oh, let's be honest. He hosts a TV show watched by stay-at-home mums. He's in touch with his feminine side, thank you.
MEGAN ALATINI
Partner: Jonny Williams
CV: TrueBliss singer, NZ Idol judge, TV actor, vocal coach - and wife of former All Black Pita Alatini.
Reader approval rating: 3 per cent
So now the shoe's on the other foot, eh? The once-smug Idol host is at the mercy of the judges, who may say things like, "You go girl" to humour her. Can she win enough votes to stay in the competition? Perhaps not, given that the DWTS audience probably didn't watch Idol so won't know who she is. And if they did ... let's hope her quickstep is up to scratch.
PAUL HOLMES
Partner: Rebecca Nicholson
CV: It was only a matter of time before New Zealand's most outspoken broadcaster showed up on reality TV. In true Holmes style, he's back on the channel he deserted when he went to Prime.
Reader approval rating: 10 per cent
Pimp-daddy of the dance floor, Paul will no doubt dazzle with that dreamy smile, and short-man-syndrome charisma. Accustomed to the blow of a failed music career, we are sure he will handle his foray into dancing with grace and humility.
