Greer Robson with Dancing with the Stars partner, and last year's winner, Aaron Gilmore. Photo / Doug Sherring
For Greer Robson, Dancing with the Stars was to be a waltz in the park.
But the former Shortland Street actress stumbled on day one of the job when faced with the question: "Why do you like ballroom dancing?"
Enter publicist Corey Cooper, who said the Herald on
Sunday's question line was too tough for Robson, of Celebrity Treasure Island fame. Cooper also said Robson would not be able to discuss her two children as an exclusive deal had been done with glossy women's magazine, Next.
Robson - who has chosen the family advice service Parents Inc as the charity to benefit from her appearance - said she hoped to take away some "great friendships" and "an amazing experience" from working on the show.
"I'm really, really, looking forward to learning to dance, I've always been interested in ballroom," she told the Herald on Sunday.
But when she was asked why she only decided to learn ballroom dancing when offered a paid role on Dancing with the Stars, she fumbled.
GR: Because I've had two children.
HoS: How old are they?
GR: Four months and 21 months.
HoS: And how old are you?
GR: I'm, no, don't ask me that.
The phone was then handed to the show's publicist who described the questions as irrelevant and challenging.
When the show hits screens in April, producers will be praying for a repeat of last season's ratings - combined results for TV One and TV2 reveal that Dancing with the Stars was the most-watched programme in New Zealand during 2006.
About 1.2 million Kiwis tuned into last year's grand finale, won by former beauty queen Lorraine Downes and dancing partner Aaron Gilmore - this year partnering Robson.
2007 dancing stars
* April Ieremia, ex-sports broadcaster and ex-Silver Fern
* Brendon Pongia, Good Morning presenter and ex-Tall Black
* Frank Bunce, ex-All Black centre
* Greer Robson, ex-Shortland Street actress
* Megan Alatini, New Zealand Idol judge and TrueBliss member
* Michael Laws, Wanganui mayor and radio talkback host
* Paul Holmes, broadcaster
* Suzanne Paul, infomercial queen
