
How are you feeling?
Oh, shattered I was first to leave. I was hoping I could at least laugh at somebody else first, but it looks like I'm the one being laughed at. It was a great experience, but you'd like to stay in for a couple of weeks just to see if you do improve.
How do you think your first dance went?The first one was pretty terrible to be honest. It would be nice to be able to do it again, because everyone was so nervous that first show and last night it was so much more relaxed.
Why did you go on the show?Because I knew absolutely nothing about dancing. A lot of people say they've never danced before, but I'd seriously never danced! I thought I'd put myself out there and try something new. I enjoyed learning a lot about it. My younger daughters now love dancing, so it'll be good to be able to do some jazz with them, help them along. But I don't think I'll continue my dancing career!
Did you pick it up easily?I found it hard to transfer your weight the way you're meant to, but I could pick up the routine quite quickly. It's very technical, but I learnt new terms like 'Sliding Doors'!
Were you worried about what the public would think?No, I didn't think of that. At the time, we were trying to have fun and learn something. I'll be back for the finale and go out with a bang!
Did you enjoy your Dancing wardrobe?I travel by caravan everywhere for my TV show [The Great Australian Doorstep], so I've always got on thongs, shorts and a t-shirt. So to put on a tux and wear tails for the first time was good. I like that side of the show-it adds that spark. You walk out and you actually feel proud and you want to perform.
The ladies have extensive hair and make-up done; what do the boys go through?I told them there was one rule-I'm not getting my chest waxed. But Valerie the wardrobe lady did convince me to get a spray tan! That was a first for me. It came up all right, actually. It didn't make me look too orange.
Who do you want to win?I thought Jess [McNamee] was great; she looked really good last night. But I'm going to be a Matt White fan. He actually moves really well, and compared to last week he's grown into it. I think he could be a bit of a dark horse.
Who surprised you the most?Fiona O'Loughlin. I was expecting myself, Layne Beachley and Fiona to be the bottom three, but Fiona's been very good. She'll be in probably the top four or five.
How did you celebrate last night?We had a couple of beers and a few champagnes afterwards. Everyone's getting along; it's a really good crew, but there's quite a competitive edge. Last night it just stepped up another level. By week eight, the competitions going to be so tight that you just wont know who's going home.
Who's the most determined?Rob Mills. It surprised me. He really gets into character. He got bagged last week, and he came on last night like it was show time. He just turned on and was great. He seems really determined to do well, which is good.
What's next?I'm going back to filming Doorstep. My wife, Cherie and I, and our four children travel to small towns around Australia, looking at what there is to do from a family's perspective that doesn't cost a lot of money. We're up in Cook Town at the moment, going in and out of the East Coast in our caravan. Its good fun, but it's been a lot of work for myself and Cherie, like producing and directing.
Do people still ask you to do the 'Spida' dance?Oh yeah. When I went to watch the Swans recently, the first thing they played was the Spida Dance on one of the big screens. I get totally embarrassed. "Put your hands in the air, shake them everywhere, do the Spida dance!" The Spida dance still lives-I might even bring it out at the after-party."
By Alicia Neil




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