# Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
**Dancing with the Stars** is an Australian television dance competition in which celebrities are paired with professional ballroom dancers and compete each week for judges' scores and viewer votes, with the lowest-ranked couple eliminated until a Mirror Ball Trophy winner remains. It premiered in October 2004 on the [Seven Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/seven-network) and has become one of Australia's most enduring reality-TV franchises, running across three broadcasters in three distinct eras.[1](https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/does-dancing-with-the-stars-help-or-harm-the-local-dance-scene-2812701/) • [2](https://thetvdb.com/series/dancing-with-the-stars-au)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Debut | October 2004 on the Seven Network[1](https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/does-dancing-with-the-stars-help-or-harm-the-local-dance-scene-2812701/) |
| Format | Celebrities paired with professional ballroom dancers; judges' scores combined with viewer votes determine elimination[2](https://thetvdb.com/series/dancing-with-the-stars-au) |
| Original production | A BBC Worldwide format produced by FremantleMedia Australia for Channel 7; by 2015 the format had been licensed to over 50 countries with more than 270 series aired worldwide and 14 in Australia[3](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/channel-seven-confirms-the-celebrity-cast-line-up-for-dancing-with-the-stars.pdf) |
| Hiatus and relaunch | Relaunched on Network Ten in 2020, with hosts Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer and judges Craig Revel Horwood, Sharna Burgess, and Tristan MacManus[4](https://www.paramountanz.com.au/news/australia-lets-dance-its-time-to-meet-your-stars/) |
| Judges (2024–2025) | Craig Revel Horwood, Helen Richey, Sharna Burgess, and Mark Wilson; produced by BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand[5](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/dancing-with-the-stars-2024-everything-you-need-to-know) • [6](https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2025/06/02/seven-sets-date-for-dancing-with-the-stars-australia-2025-premiere/) |
| Recent reach | The 2023 season reached 6.14 million Australians across Seven and 7plus; the 2025 season reached more than 7.6 million[7](https://7news.com.au/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-2023-huge-ratings-win-for-seven-as-millions-tune-in-c-11370189) • [8](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dancing-With-The-Stars-sweeps-viewers-off-their-feet-.pdf) |
| First winner | Bec Cartwright (Hewitt) and Michael Miziner, Series 1 (2004)[9](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dancing-with-the-stars-press-kit.pdf) |
## History on the Seven Network
The series began in October 2004 as Seven's adaptation of a similar British program, and television histories record Daryl Somers's return to TV after a five-year absence to host what was then a surprise hit for the network.[1](https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/does-dancing-with-the-stars-help-or-harm-the-local-dance-scene-2812701/) • [10](https://televisionau.com/timeline/2000-2009) During this era the show was a BBC Worldwide format produced by FremantleMedia Australia for Channel 7.[3](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/channel-seven-confirms-the-celebrity-cast-line-up-for-dancing-with-the-stars.pdf)
The Seven press kit for series 14 (2014) lists [Daniel MacPherson](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-macpherson) as host with co-host Edwina Bartholomew, eleven celebrities, and a judging panel of Kym Johnson, Adam Garcia, Todd McKenney, and Helen Richey, with judges' scores combined with the viewer vote to decide the winner.[9](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dancing-with-the-stars-press-kit.pdf) The 2015 season brought in a new co-host, Shane Bourne, alongside veteran Edwina Bartholomew, and guest judge [Bruno Tonioli](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruno-tonioli) joined the panel of Todd McKenney, Helen Richey, and Kym Johnson.[3](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/channel-seven-confirms-the-celebrity-cast-line-up-for-dancing-with-the-stars.pdf) That 2015 cast included Paralympic champion Kelly Cartwright, supermodel Samantha Harris, pop icon [John Paul Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-paul-young), and Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham.[3](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/channel-seven-confirms-the-celebrity-cast-line-up-for-dancing-with-the-stars.pdf)
The show then left air before its later relaunch.[4](https://www.paramountanz.com.au/news/australia-lets-dance-its-time-to-meet-your-stars/)
## The Network Ten era (2020)
In 2020 the series returned on Network Ten, premiering on Sunday 9 February at 7.30pm, hosted by Amanda Keller and [Grant Denyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/grant-denyer) with ten celebrities competing to win $50,000 for their chosen charity. The judges were [Craig Revel Horwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/craig-revel-horwood), Sharna Burgess, and Tristan MacManus, and the production came from Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia and [BBC Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-studios), from a format created by the BBC and distributed by BBC Studios.[4](https://www.paramountanz.com.au/news/australia-lets-dance-its-time-to-meet-your-stars/) Contestants that season included singer Dami Im, who had represented Australia at Eurovision Song Contest 2016.[4](https://www.paramountanz.com.au/news/australia-lets-dance-its-time-to-meet-your-stars/)
## Return to Seven and the current era
Seven subsequently commissioned a new "all stars" event version of the show from Warner Bros International TV Production Australia and BBC Studios.[11](https://7news.com.au/sunrise/entertainment/all-stars-hit-the-dancefloor--c-1808980) Since then the show has run on Seven. The 2023 season ran for six weeks with 14 celebrities and hosts Daryl and Sonia, reaching 6.14 million [Australians](https://www.edgepedia.org/australians) across Channel 7 and 7plus.[7](https://7news.com.au/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-2023-huge-ratings-win-for-seven-as-millions-tune-in-c-11370189) Production of that season used an 11-camera outside-broadcast layout featuring PTZ, jib, and [Steadicam](https://www.edgepedia.org/steadicam) cameras.[12](https://www.gravitymedia.com/qa/projects/dancing-with-the-stars-australia/)
The 2024 season was billed as the show's 21st, with 12 new celebrities and judges Craig Revel Horwood, Helen Richey, Sharna Burgess, and Mark Wilson; the cast that year included AFL star and 7NEWS Sport presenter [Ben Cousins](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-cousins).[5](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/dancing-with-the-stars-2024-everything-you-need-to-know) The 2025 season premiered on Sunday, 15 June at 7:00pm on Seven, again with twelve celebrities and the same four judges.[6](https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2025/06/02/seven-sets-date-for-dancing-with-the-stars-australia-2025-premiere/) Seven reported that more than 7.6 million Australians tuned in across Seven and 7plus over the 2025 series run, with contestants including TV host and podcaster [Osher Günsberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/osher-gunsberg).[8](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dancing-With-The-Stars-sweeps-viewers-off-their-feet-.pdf)
## Format, judging, and voting
Each week the couples compete to impress a panel of judges and the viewing public. Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes, cast by telephone and SMS in the original era, to determine which duo is eliminated.[2](https://thetvdb.com/series/dancing-with-the-stars-au) In the recent Australian version, studio audience votes make up 50 percent of the total combined score, with online voting on the show's official website among the ways viewers could vote; this is how celebrities at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard have sometimes stayed in the competition.[13](https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/dancing-with-the-stars-voting/)
## Champions of the first thirteen series
Seven's press kit records the champions of the original Seven Network run:[9](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dancing-with-the-stars-press-kit.pdf)
- Series 1 (2004): Bec Cartwright (Hewitt) and Michael Miziner
- Series 2 (2005): [Tom Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-williams) and Kym Johnson
- Series 3 (2005): [Ada Nicodemou](https://www.edgepedia.org/ada-nicodemou) and Aric Yegudkin
- Series 4 (2006): Grant Denyer and Amanda Garner
- Series 5 (2006): Anthony Koutoufides and [Natalie Lowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/natalie-lowe)
- Series 6 (2007): Kate Ceberano and John-Paul Collins
- Series 7 (2007): Bridie Carter and Craig Monley
- Series 8 (2008): Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor
- Series 9 (2009): Adam Brand and Jade Hatcher
- Series 10 (2010): Rob Palmer and Alana Patience
- Series 11 (2011): Manu Feildel and Alana Patience
- Series 12 (2012): Johnny Ruffo and Luda Kroitor
- Series 13 (2013): Cosentino and Jessica Raffa
## Place in Australian television and dance
Writers on Australian dance note that the show's visibility brings ballroom into living rooms nationwide, while also raising the question of whether high-dramatic lifts and quick edits misrepresent what professional dancing involves.[1](https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/does-dancing-with-the-stars-help-or-harm-the-local-dance-scene-2812701/) Academic work on the Strictly/DWTS format treats the Australian series alongside the British one as a site where celebrities are put into direct competition and the value of work is displayed for audiences.[14](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19392397.2013.791038) The franchise's audience reach has remained substantial in its current era: the 2023 season reached 6.14 million viewers, and the 2025 season drew more than 7.6 million.[7](https://7news.com.au/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-2023-huge-ratings-win-for-seven-as-millions-tune-in-c-11370189) • [8](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dancing-With-The-Stars-sweeps-viewers-off-their-feet-.pdf)
## References
1. [Does Dancing with the Stars help or harm the local dance scene?, ArtsHub](https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/does-dancing-with-the-stars-help-or-harm-the-local-dance-scene-2812701/)
2. [Dancing with the Stars (AU), TheTVDB](https://thetvdb.com/series/dancing-with-the-stars-au)
3. [Channel Seven confirms the celebrity cast line-up for Dancing With The Stars (5 July 2015), Seven West Media](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/channel-seven-confirms-the-celebrity-cast-line-up-for-dancing-with-the-stars.pdf)
4. [Australia, Let's Dance. It's Time To Meet Your Stars., Paramount Australia & New Zealand](https://www.paramountanz.com.au/news/australia-lets-dance-its-time-to-meet-your-stars/)
5. [Dancing with the Stars 2024: Everything you need to know, Mediaweek](https://www.mediaweek.com.au/dancing-with-the-stars-2024-everything-you-need-to-know)
6. [Seven sets date for Dancing With The Stars Australia 2025 premiere, TV Blackbox](https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2025/06/02/seven-sets-date-for-dancing-with-the-stars-australia-2025-premiere/)
7. [Dancing With the Stars 2023: Huge ratings win for Seven, 7NEWS](https://7news.com.au/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-2023-huge-ratings-win-for-seven-as-millions-tune-in-c-11370189)
8. [Dancing With The Stars sweeps viewers off their feet (2025 media release), Seven West Media](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dancing-With-The-Stars-sweeps-viewers-off-their-feet-.pdf)
9. [Dancing With The Stars series 14 press kit, Seven West Media](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dancing-with-the-stars-press-kit.pdf)
10. [2000–2009 television timeline, Television.AU](https://televisionau.com/timeline/2000-2009)
11. [Dancing with the Stars Australia returns for 'All stars', 7NEWS](https://7news.com.au/sunrise/entertainment/all-stars-hit-the-dancefloor--c-1808980)
12. [Dancing With The Stars Australia, Gravity Media](https://www.gravitymedia.com/qa/projects/dancing-with-the-stars-australia/)
13. [Dancing with the Stars 2024 voting explained, The Australian Women's Weekly](https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/dancing-with-the-stars-voting/)
14. [Celebrity, work and the reality-talent show: Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Studies Vol. 4 No. 2](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19392397.2013.791038)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Reality and competition franchise editions › Dancing with the Stars and dance-competition franchises*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license