With the fabulous hosts Grant Denyer and Amanda Keller confirmed, and the dazzling new cast revealed, there’s only one thing left for the powers-that-be behind Dancing With The Stars Australia to do: unveil the show’s panel of judges!
Dancing With The Stars Australia served up an impressive roster of judges in previous seasons, when the show was housed on Channel Seven. Todd McKenney, Helen Richey, Paul Mercurio, Adam Garcia and Kym Johnson were some of the dance experts who graced the judging panel then.
Craig Revel Horwood, Sharna Burgess and Tristan MacManus to judge Dancing With The Stars Australia (Image: Network 10).
And in 2020, the same judges who made their glitzy debut in 2019 are back on our screens for another year!
Dancing With The Stars US alumni Sharna Burgess and handsome Irishman Tristan MacManus will be joined by Strictly Come Dancing UK’s tough judge Craig Revel Horwood.
Keep on scrolling and get to know your judges!
Sharna Burgess
Wagga Wagga girl Sharna left Australia for the US, where she has competed as a professional dancer in 12 seasons of the US version of Dancing With The Stars. She returns now to join the panel of judges for her second season.
As a dancer, Sharna was partnered with stars including Andy Dick, Nick Carter and Josh Norman. She even took home the iconic disco ball trophy in the 2018 season with radio host Bobby Bones.
“Having been a pro on America’s Dancing With The Stars for the last 12 seasons, I am so excited to be coming home to bring my knowledge and passion from the US to this stellar line up of Aussie talent,” Sharna said prior to her debut in 2019.
“I can’t wait to see what these amazing dancers have in store for us all.”
Tristan MacManus
Irish dancer Tristan appeared on the US version of Dancing With The Stars for five seasons, partnering with stars including Pamela Anderson and Gladys Knight. He was also a professional dancer on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing for two seasons.
The new judge is married to Australian actress Tahyna Tozzi, so he’s basically an honourary Australian!
Tristan says he’ll be a strong, but fair, critic of the new celebrity dancers.
“I can see myself giving a 10 but I’m not going to trot them out willy nilly. I like to think I’ll give one when it’s due and necessary if I gave someone a 10 one week, I’d easily give them a five the following week just to pull them back down if that’s what they needed! “
Craig Revel Horwood
Victorian-born Craig is a British-based choreographer, theatre director, and a member of the original Strictly Come Dancing judging panel in the UK. He’s been on every judging panel since the show began in 2004, and has become known for his harsh judging style over the past sixteen seasons.
“I can’t wait to come back home down under and give the Aussie stars the real, unfiltered Craig treatment,” he says.
“I will be watching every move, there is no hiding bad technique or poor posture on my watch. I expect nothing less than perfection. And while these celebrities might be famous in their own right, the dance floor is my domain so they better be ready to rumba.”
Dancing With The Stars Australia premieres on Sunday February 9 at 7.30pm, on Network 10.
