9 Questions with Dannii Minogue
1. What’s it like working with Gary?
He’s distractingly good-looking! And then I have Martin on the other side of me, so I’m wedged between two guys who couldn’t be more charming or more beautiful. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!
2. Have you been impressed by the standard of the contestants on this show?
They are incredible and there’s so much you can latch on to: the singing, dancing, the charisma. Then when you get them together in a band, it brings out their personalities even more.
3. Some of the contestants are very young, do you feel maternal towards them?
Actually the younger ones have way more confidence than the older ones – they have nothing to lose. I spoke to Lulu about her first recording, when she was fourteen, and she said she wasn’t nervous because she had nothing to lose – she was just having fun. It’s the older ones who have a wife and kid sitting in the audience; it’s so much harder for them to be in the moment and focus on what they need to do. I know when I am at work, half my brain will be on my son, making sure I call him before he goes to bed, checking he is OK at school, that kind of thing. It’s different being fourteen when you don’t have responsibilities. You can feel free.
4. Is it important that this show is offering a job and not just instant fame?
That’s incredibly important – it’s a job and a set of skills that they can use forever. When we do get our final five, I think they have a huge chance of going on to be superstars. The standard is that high.
5. What advice would you give to the contestants about dealing with the fame that comes with being on a primetime show like this?
The hardest part is dealing with fame when you don’t have support. I’ve always had my family behind me and of course a sister who does the same job: that’s been a huge help to me. Our contestants are going to be in a great band of boys, and they can take comfort in that. There’s a lot of support there.
6. You’re back in the UK! What made you miss it and want to come back?
The TV! We get a lot of British programmes in Australia but I miss the big, live TV moments.
7. Do you have a favourite British TV show?
I’m A Celebrity is one of my favourite shows ever – love Ant and Dec!
8. Have you been able to hang out with Kylie while you were filming Let It Shine?
It’s nice hanging out with my sister over here, but she’s also been to Australia a lot over the last few years. We’ve seen a lot of each other lately!
9. Gary’s being mysterious about the stage show. Can you give any hints about it?
I know everything about the show, but I can’t say anything! It’s so exciting. I love what the show is going to be about – I was moved from tears to laughter when Gary was telling me about it! It’s going to be incredible. We just need to find the right performers first…
