Fed: Durie gone from Dancing but back in the garden

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2007
Fed: Durie gone from Dancing but back in the garden

By Michael Gadd, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 18 AAP - After his elimination from Dancing With The Stars, landscaper
and TV presenter Jamie Durie is convinced he made the right move from the Nine to the
Seven Network this year.

The judges have only recently flipped over Durie's dance floor prowess where he was
criticised for lacking subtlety and finesse as he relied too heavily on his acrobatic
background and experience as a stripper for Manpower.

But today he had already put the show behind him, labelling it a fun and challenging experience.

Now he's looking forward to his next project on the now top-rating network, Australia's
Best Backyards, which will go to air in the next month.

"It's going to be good to get back in the garden and doing what I loved to do, encouraging
people to put more plants in the ground," Durie said.

Asked if he was disappointed to miss out on the top three in Dancing With The Stars
after a dramatic episode last night, the highest rating of the season with 1.9 million
viewers, Durie said "not really".

"I'm actually pleased to have my weekends back," he said.

"I don't think people realise the commitment that's involved when you take on this
show. That's why I've declined two times before agreeing to do this series."

In reality, Durie will only get one week's break from the show with all contestants
required to return to the South Melbourne studios for the grand final on May 1.

On his move from Nine to Seven, Durie believes his timing was perfect.

He rose to fame on Nine's Backyard Blitz and other shows when it was the undisputed
No.1 network in Australia.

Now Seven is the runaway leader in the TV ratings.

"The whole network is putting a lot of passion into what they're doing and that means
great opportunities for me, I couldn't be happier where I am," he said.

Durie travels overseas every second week and has been filming around the country for
Australia's Best Backyards for the past six weeks.

But his workload is no different to the contestants remaining on the show.

Singer Kate Ceberano has recorded an album of 1980s music during the series to capitalise
on her exposure on the show while Home and Away actor Tim Campbell, the runaway favourite
with bookmakers Sportingbet to win the series, has continued his normal shooting schedule
while rehearsing for the show.

But the first contestant to show real weakness has been breakfast presenter Fifi Box.

After a fall during rehearsals Box and her partner Paul Green were heavily medicated on
painkillers during their performance last night.

A Seven spokeswoman said Box was likely to take the next two days off rehearsals to
rest her injured ankle and will make a decision later this week on whether or not she
will dance next week.

AAP mdg/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: DANCING

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.