Hapless Hide survives to dance another day

Rodney Hide and Krystal Stuart dancing the paso doble last night. Picture / Neil Mackenzie

Despite recording the lowest score in Dancing With The Stars history, Act Party leader Rodney Hide has survived to dance another day.

The TVNZ programme features celebrity contestants with little dancing experience, competing against each other in a ballroom and Latin competition, with the assistance of a professional dance partner.

Last night Hide struggled through his paso doble, and despite talented partner Krystal Stuart being described as a master of disguise by the judges she failed to cover Hide's shortcomings.

The judges awarded the pair just 13 in total, with a 2 from Paul Mercurio and a 3 from Brendan Cole.

A cringing Mercurio said Hide looked uncomfortable and that his dance was equally uncomfortable for those watching.

But when the public votes were added to the judges' rankings it was Shortland St star David Wikaira-Paul and his partner Rebecca Nicholson who got their marching orders. Wikaira-Paul and Nicholson's foxtrot had earned a score from the judges of 26 -- double that of Hide and Stuart.

Going into last night's episode Wikaira-Paul was the favourite to win the series, according to Australian bookmakers Centrebet. Early last week the actor was paying $2.50 to win the series. Hide, was the rank outsider, paying $13.

According to a poll on the TVNZ website, Hide was also the celebrity the least viewers were looking forward to seeing dance, but somebody must be voting.

Wikaira-Paul's partner Nicholson may be able to sympathise with the challenges facing Hide's partner, having danced in the last series with rhythmically challenged Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt.

Hide attracted criticism last week for his absences from Parliament to practise for the show and campaign for votes.

As at last Thursday he had been at Parliament for only three of the last 10 sitting days and had missed voting on 11 bills. On Thursday night he was absent for a confidence vote.

Hide defended himself and said his number one priority was to the people of Epsom who voted him in at the election.

He said other MPs also took leave from Parliament and missed votes.

Parliament is in recess for the next two weeks.

That may be a blessing for Hide as the celebrities have to master two dances for next week's show -- the samba and the Viennese waltz.

Hide said it was a tough night last night for everyone because it was the fourth week and everyone was pretty tired.

"I got a reprieve and so I'm going to really have to pull it out for the samba and the waltz," he said.

"I'm enjoying the show tremendously ... it's actually an absolute delight to be involved with it."

Hide said years in politics had given him a thick skin when it came to harsh comments from the judges, who had a job to do.

"I always feel disappointed because I have a great dance partner and she's worked hard to get me to the level that I'm at so I feel as though I've let her down a little.

"And then I just turn it around and say well okay, I'm still alive and I'll try and do better next week."

Hide said he got energy from comments he gets from people in the street.

"They just say 'good on ya, keep at it'," he said.

"I find kiwis just love someone who is getting up and giving it a go and doing their best."

Hide thought it was the fact he was trying hard and doing his best that earned him votes.

He said celebrities were allowed to vote for themselves, but he hadn't.

- NZPA