TV3's revival of Dancing with the Stars, which hits screens this weekend, hasn't quite achieved the starpower among its 10 amateur contenders that TVNZ's version managed when it screened between 2005 and 2010.
There are no All Blacks or Silver Ferns, past or present, for one thing. The nearest thing to a politician is Pam Corkery. There's but one former Shortland Streeter among them. Two of the 10 - Siobhan Marshall and Ben Barrington - are actors on long departed TV3 dramas. Another is fresh from appearing on The Bachelor. Two are morning hosts on Mediaworks radio stations.
But if it's a little lacking in household names, the show will be bigger in other ways - it has 10 contestants, meaning 10 weeks of competition.
It sure doesn't lack for experience among the dance partners. Five are veterans of the TVNZ show, while on the judging panel are past double winner Stefano Oliveri and past competitor Hayley Holt, who join past presenter Candy Lane.
Among the almost-famous five to have signed on for the TV3 incarnation are Jonny Williams, who was twice runner up with partners Barbara Kendall and Megan Alatini but didn't fare so well with actors Angela Bloomfield or Miriam Smith.
