Hide waltzes to the bottom of the pack in Dancing with the Stars

Rodney Hide

Just when you thought you'd recovered from a samba twitching Tim Shadbolt, here comes a waltzing Rodney Hide.

The second season of Dancing With the Stars debuted last night - complete with sequins, fake tan and revealing costumes - and already looks set to follow last year's show as a ratings hit.

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) spokeswoman Amy Todd said about 10,500 texts had been received in the first 20 minutes after the show as people voted for their favourite contestant.

The number of texts was higher than last year, she said.

A proportion of the money earned from each text sent was donated to the charity nominated by that contestant. TVNZ did not profit from the text revenue, she said.

"Everyone was very relieved to have that first dance over and done with and all were very pleased with their performances," she said.

Last year's contest - which was won by Norm Hewitt and his dancing partner, now turned judge, Carol-Ann Hickmore - had another line-up of New Zealand "celebrities" whose fame seemed dependent on the word 'former' before their name.

Eight couples took to the dance floor last night, including former swimming champion Danyon Loader, former WINZ boss Christine Rankin, former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes, former Shortland Street actress Angela Bloomfield, former Shortland Street actor David Wikaira-Paul, former world champion discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina, nine times Coast-to-Coast race winner Steve Gurney, as well as ACT leader Rodney Hide.

Jason Gunn and Candy Lane - who took smutty innuendo to a whole new level for the usually staid time-slot - returned to repeat their hosting duties and were joined by last year's judges Paul Mecurio, Alison Leonard, Brendan Cole, along with newcomer Ms Hickmore.

Faumuina scored the highest of the evening with 32 points, wowing the judges with her waltz while at the other end of the scale Mr Hide scraped in with the lowest score of the evening on 23 - just one point lower than three other couples on 24 points.

Mr Hide said he loved his one minute 41 seconds dancing debut last night - to the tune of Leo Sayer's When I Need Love - although it was the most terrifying challenge he had ever been given.

"I've never danced, I always believed I couldn't dance, I'm scared to dance," Mr Hide told Nine to Noon today.

Mr Hide said once he agreed to join the show, he had "terror like I've never known".

Since training started six weeks ago, Mr Hide said he had lost about 6kg - prompting some new suits and the rediscovery of some older ones he had not worn for a long time.

Mr Hide said he was not sure whether he had lost weight through the exercise of dance or from lying in bed at night worrying.

His main fear had been of letting down his dancing partner Krystal Stuart - who admitted she had reservations when she found out Mr Hide would be her dance partner.

Mr Hide defended his decision to be involved in the programme despite his obligations and workload as an MP and leader of the Act Party.

"The reality is I can do twice as much work even at half steam than most MPs and I've told TVNZ my first priority is Epsom but it is true some of my parliamentary duties have dropped."

Mr Hide said his time on the programme would give the National Party the opportunity to learn how to be an opposition.

Nerves turned into wobbles for some with Ms Rankin almost tipping over in the final moments - possibly thrown off-balance by her legendary larger-than-life earrings - but all contestants held their nerve for the most part.

Next week will see the start of the weekly eliminations with the final due to be screened on June 25.

- NZPA