JLS star Aston Merrygold steps up to judge on Sky 1 HD's Got To Dance
West End & Film star Adam Garcia to step down after three seasons
Britain's biggest and best dance show GOT TO DANCE is back for a toe-tapping, hip shaking fourth season, but this year there are some changes to the star-studded panel. After three hugely successful series of GOT TO DANCE, Adam Garcia has taken the difficult decision to leave the show. As a result of additional work commitments on other projects, and in particular, with the production of Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic coming up, he feels he is not able to offer the time and commitment deserved to the show.
Garcia will be replaced on the judging panel by Brit and MOBO award winner Aston Merrygold from chart-topping band JLS.
Garcia said: “I have absolutely loved my time on GOT TO DANCE, it truly has been the most incredible experience. It has shown me the wealth of talent the UK has to offer and the crew on the show have become a second family. However, I feel now is the time to pass the baton onto someone new. I want to wish Aston all the best and hope he has as much fun on this show as I did.”
Merrygold added: “I have always been a fan of GOT TO DANCE and I'm absolutely buzzing to be part of the best dance show on TV. My past experience on talent shows will help me understand what the contestants are going through and I can't wait to get started.”
GOT TO DANCE is the must-see dance contest. Adding extra sparkle with each outing, season three proved to be its biggest and best yet. Fresh and fun, it brought not only the viewers to their feet but the critics too, with the Guardian’s The Guide offering a particularly hearty pat on the back: “Devoid of the X Factor- bitching, drama and pyrotechnics, GOT TO DANCE relies on actual hoofing talent.”
With Davina McCall again resuming hosting duties, Merrygold will join returning judges Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Banjo for more star-spotting as they scour the UK and Ireland to find a new, undiscovered dance sensation. In Season three, the standard demanded was much higher, but the waves of contestants didn’t disappoint. After weeks of awe-inspiring auditions and five spectacular semi-final rounds, the new GOT TO DANCE champions were crowned: Prodijig. Arguably the contest’s greatest act yet, the Irish dance troupe brought the traditional Irish jig bang into the 21st century and were awarded £250,000 for their efforts.
There’s no doubt that Prodijig will take some beating, but if there’s one thing GOT TO DANCE is particularly good at it’s raising that bar. Pumped-up and raring to go, join Davina and the know-their-stuff panel as they search Britain and Ireland, leaving no sweatband or legwarmer unturned, to find the next big dancing star who will be crowned champion in front of an live audience of 8,000 people at Kensington's Olympia.
GOT TO DANCE will return in January 2013. To find out how to take part in auditions for this year’s show go to www.sky.com/dance.
Notes to editor
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Notes to Editors:
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