Latest news with #Logie
West Australian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Michael Usher overthinks everything, except his toe-tapping decision to go on Dancing with the Stars
If Michael Usher had given himself a chance to really think about joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars, he probably would've said no. 'It was such a rapid left or right turn out of my lane, and I kind of figured, 'what did I have to lose?',' he told The Nightly. 'Some people might look at it and think, 'What's he doing, that's not him at all'. If I asked all my serious mates in the newsroom, they would've thought I was mad, but I wasn't doing it for them.' Usher has been a TV journalist for 35 years and you've seen him reporting from Iraq, from the Olympics and from behind the news desk. You had never before seen him in a sequined waistcoat while moving his hips under a mirrored ball. When the call came, luckily, it wasn't for SAS Australia. That would've been an outright no. 'I would've had a heart attack in the first run up the hill, I think it would've killed me,' Usher speculated. But Dancing with the Stars was different. 'I asked the kids and they said yes, partly because I think they thought it would be new material for them to laugh at me a lot. They've got wicked senses of humour, those kids. 'At my age, when you get a chance to do something different and learn something new, why not? Even if it's very publicly. It's a great way to get on top of nerves and fears. I've done lots of serious things for a long time, and I know the temptation of just having a bit of fun, and learning something new was too good to pass up.' Usher may not have overthought the decision, but he did every step of the process. 'Even since doing (the show), I've danced every dance in my dreams, I've woken up thinking about it, I've danced the steps 10 million times over, (thought) about what I would've done differently, and how I might've looked differently,' Usher confessed. His dance partner, Natalie Lowe, had to pull him from his natural inclination to overthink it. 'She said, 'I really need you to stop using your brain, just feel it, I need you to stop thinking and being a journalist and asking questions, otherwise, we're not going to get these steps learned',' Usher recalled. 'It was good advice. Just shutting up and not asking questions is really hard.' Lowe wasn't the only one who had set Usher straight about his role in the show. His fascination with how Dancing with the Stars was put together – the editing, the music, the crews – prompted the producers to remind him that it was their show, and that he should just chill. For perhaps the first time, he was the subject. Usher is used to telling the story, not being the one answering the questions, something he's had to do a lot of due to the publicity demands of the competition series and now that he's up for a Logie in a new category, the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter. It's not a 'super comfortable' space for Usher, but he doesn't hate it. 'We all like to see people do something different and learn something new about the people we think we know,' he explained. 'I don't like that celebrity stuff, but I think people do like to see other sides of people, and that's not a bad thing. That's human life, that's just curiosity. 'I'd be pretty cynical if, after all these years of asking a lot of people to come and sit down with me and share their life story, if the opportunity then came my way and I said 'no way am I going to expose myself'.' Which is not to say he didn't consider the implications of how audience perception of him as a serious news man might change. 'You don't have to be a two-dimensional person,' he said. 'We live in a different era now and you can be a few different things. I've got a life, I've got a personality of my own, but I don't show it very much. I didn't mind showing that. I probably showed a little bit too much! 'The anxious side of it, maybe the daggy side of it, less sitched-up, buttoned-up, neat hair and curated. This was a bit more loose and freeform. But as the kids said, 'Just go and show everyone else what we see at home, people will either die laughing or just die for you'.' He didn't just learn a few extra steps on the floor, being the subject gave him a more mindful appreciation of the people he's usually asking questions of. And there are things he didn't give away – and is adamant should never give away as a journalist. He said that anyone who has ever balled up him for having an opinion about something political, they've been wrong. 'People want your personal opinion drawn out of you all the time. Fine, go and be a commentator or be an opinion maker. But if you want to have those views, there's no room for it in the 6pm news bulletin or Spotlight.' The public might know his thoughts on mastering a pasodoble, but they don't know how he votes. 'If they do, they're wrong,' he said. Some things are sacred but others – like how he and his kids have a deeper relationship now because of his jaunt on the dance floor, his daughter cried at every taping she went to, or that he's taking lessons with his partner – he's OK to share. What he took from the wild six months of pulling double duty as a news man and a dance man is the joy in giving it go. 'I love seeing my kids do that. I don't expect them to excel, but just give it a go. So, I took the same advice that I've given to my children.' The Logie Awards are on Channel 7 on August 3 at 7.30pm
Perth Now
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Michael Usher overthinks everything except when he said yes
If Michael Usher had given himself a chance to really think about joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars, he probably would've said no. 'It was such a rapid left or right turn out of my lane, and I kind of figured, 'what did I have to lose?',' he told The Nightly. 'Some people might look at it and think, 'What's he doing, that's not him at all'. If I asked all my serious mates in the newsroom, they would've thought I was mad, but I wasn't doing it for them.' Usher has been a TV journalist for 35 years and you've seen him reporting from Iraq, from the Olympics and from behind the news desk. You had never before seen him in a sequined waistcoat while moving his hips under a mirrored ball. When the call came, luckily, it wasn't for SAS Australia. That would've been an outright no. 'I would've had a heart attack in the first run up the hill, I think it would've killed me,' Usher speculated. But Dancing with the Stars was different. 'I asked the kids and they said yes, partly because I think they thought it would be new material for them to laugh at me a lot. They've got wicked senses of humour, those kids. 'At my age, when you get a chance to do something different and learn something new, why not? Even if it's very publicly. It's a great way to get on top of nerves and fears. I've done lots of serious things for a long time, and I know the temptation of just having a bit of fun, and learning something new was too good to pass up.' The Dancing With The Stars 2025 cast. Nicholas Wilson Credit: Nicholas Wilson / Nicholas Wilson Usher may not have overthought the decision, but he did every step of the process. 'Even since doing (the show), I've danced every dance in my dreams, I've woken up thinking about it, I've danced the steps 10 million times over, (thought) about what I would've done differently, and how I might've looked differently,' Usher confessed. His dance partner, Natalie Lowe, had to pull him from his natural inclination to overthink it. 'She said, 'I really need you to stop using your brain, just feel it, I need you to stop thinking and being a journalist and asking questions, otherwise, we're not going to get these steps learned',' Usher recalled. 'It was good advice. Just shutting up and not asking questions is really hard.' Lowe wasn't the only one who had set Usher straight about his role in the show. His fascination with how Dancing with the Stars was put together – the editing, the music, the crews – prompted the producers to remind him that it was their show, and that he should just chill. For perhaps the first time, he was the subject. Usher is used to telling the story, not being the one answering the questions, something he's had to do a lot of due to the publicity demands of the competition series and now that he's up for a Logie in a new category, the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter. It's not a 'super comfortable' space for Usher, but he doesn't hate it. 'We all like to see people do something different and learn something new about the people we think we know,' he explained. 'I don't like that celebrity stuff, but I think people do like to see other sides of people, and that's not a bad thing. That's human life, that's just curiosity. 'I'd be pretty cynical if, after all these years of asking a lot of people to come and sit down with me and share their life story, if the opportunity then came my way and I said 'no way am I going to expose myself'.' Michael Usher with dance partner Natalie Lowe. Credit: Seven Which is not to say he didn't consider the implications of how audience perception of him as a serious news man might change. 'You don't have to be a two-dimensional person,' he said. 'We live in a different era now and you can be a few different things. I've got a life, I've got a personality of my own, but I don't show it very much. I didn't mind showing that. I probably showed a little bit too much! 'The anxious side of it, maybe the daggy side of it, less sitched-up, buttoned-up, neat hair and curated. This was a bit more loose and freeform. But as the kids said, 'Just go and show everyone else what we see at home, people will either die laughing or just die for you'.' He didn't just learn a few extra steps on the floor, being the subject gave him a more mindful appreciation of the people he's usually asking questions of. And there are things he didn't give away – and is adamant should never give away as a journalist. He said that anyone who has ever balled up him for having an opinion about something political, they've been wrong. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. 'People want your personal opinion drawn out of you all the time. Fine, go and be a commentator or be an opinion maker. But if you want to have those views, there's no room for it in the 6pm news bulletin or Spotlight.' The public might know his thoughts on mastering a pasodoble, but they don't know how he votes. 'If they do, they're wrong,' he said. Some things are sacred but others – like how he and his kids have a deeper relationship now because of his jaunt on the dance floor, his daughter cried at every taping she went to, or that he's taking lessons with his partner – he's OK to share. What he took from the wild six months of pulling double duty as a news man and a dance man is the joy in giving it go. 'I love seeing my kids do that. I don't expect them to excel, but just give it a go. So, I took the same advice that I've given to my children.' The Logie Awards are on Channel 7 on August 3 at 7.30pm
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Home and Away is coming to WA: Hit soap to film in the west this October
Home and Away is headed to Western Australia to film in October. Home and Away is headed to Western Australia to film in October. Credit: Supplied Home and Away is heading west for the first-time. Australia's number one television drama will film an 'ambitious, high-stakes storyline' in WA this October. Details are still unknown at this stage, with filming preparations a closely guarded secret. But pre-production is underway for the five special episodes, which will see Home and Away visit this side of the country for the first time in its 37-year history. 'In partnership with Tourism Western Australia, this special Home and Away event will see the show trade the familiar sands of Summer Bay for the vast and varied landscapes of WA,' an official release states. Filming is set to take place 'at several locations' across the State, with producers promising Western Australia will be showcased in all its stunning glory, 'from cosmopolitan Perth to its rugged coastline and expansive red outback.' The WA Government claims the episodes will showcase the State to audiences beyond Australis and New Zealand to almost 50 other international markets. The UK has a strong Home and Away fan base, with 250,000 UK-based viewers per episode, presenting a huge opportunity to promote WA as a tourism destination. Home and Away series producer, Lucy Addario, said the cast and crew were 'beyond excited' to be packing their bags and heading to Perth to begin shooting in two months' time. '(Western Australia's) awe-inspiring beauty, diverse landscapes and sheer scale make it the perfect backdrop for this huge storyline,' she said. 'Working with the Tourism Western Australia team has been an absolute joy and we can't wait for audiences to fall in love with WA like we have.' Camera Icon Hailey Pinto joined Home and Away a year ago, and is nominated for a Logie this year. Credit: Scott Ehler / TheWest Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said he was thrilled to welcome the iconic show here. 'Home and Away has been a staple of Australian television for close to 40 years, and this special WA storyline presents a great opportunity to showcase the State to millions of viewers across the country and around the world,' he said. 'When our pristine coastline and diverse tourism experiences are broadcast to homes across the country and overseas next year, we encourage viewers to come and see these spectacular locations for themselves.' Camera Icon Tourism Minister Reece Whitby. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian Home and Away, which has been on air since 1988, famously films its outside locations at Palm Beach in NSW's northern beaches. The special Home and Away event will premiere in 2026 on Seven and 7plus. Home and Away airs Monday-to-Thursday at 7pm. The show's stars, Lynne McGranger and Hailey Pinto, are nominees for the 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards, broadcast exclusively on Seven and 7plus from 7.00pm on Sunday August 3. Click here to vote.
Sky News AU
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Jelena Dokic stuns fans as Aussie tennis star looks slimmer than ever in pyjamas while on holiday in Croatia - after debuting new romance
Jelena Dokic has stunned fans as she appeared slimmer than ever before in a photo of herself posing casually in pyjamas while on holiday. The retired tennis great, 42, has publicly chronicled her weight loss journey after shedding about 20 kilos through diet and lifestyle changes. She credits her success to a healthy diet and an exercise regimen, which includes working out at the gym at 6am while working 18-hour days. Dokic took to Instagram on Sunday to showcase her trimmed-down figure in a pastel blue robe on a getaway in her home country of Croatia. In her photo, Jelena looked cheerful and relaxed, wearing white hotel slippers and holding a cup of tea as she basked in the sun's rays. Her hair was gathered loosely in a bun, complementing her natural makeup-free look, and she took to the caption with a heart-warming note. "Slow mornings are the best," Dokic wrote alongside an emoji of tea, the sun and a smiling face with hearts. Fans flooded the comments to say Jelena looked great on her well-deserved getaway following commentating on the Wimbledon tennis tournament, where she reached the semifinals at 16 years old in 2000. "Look at you. What a beautiful transformation, body and soul. Enjoy beautiful lady," one fan wrote. "Wow! Jelena, you look amazing! You are back into your figure when you were playing tennis," another person said. One more fan who was in awe of Dokic's physical transformation said: "How did you lose so much weight? You look amazing". A third fan said the Aussie star looked gorgeous in her photo, adding, "It's good to slow Croatia." "Such an inspirational lady," another person added. A sixth pointed out how "happy, content and peaceful" Jelena appeared. "I'm so inspired by your life experiences and the way you've dig deep to overcome the pain and suffering," they said. The beloved tennis star, who retired from professional tennis in 2014, was nominated for her first-ever Logie award for the Channel 9 documentary Unbreakable, about her turbulent life on and off the court. In the documentary, Dokic harrowingly detailed her father and coach Damir Dokic's alleged physical, emotional and financial abuse, allegedly occurring regularly throughout her childhood and professional career. Jelena ultimately cut ties with her father before his death in May and completely rebooted her career. In 2009, she enjoyed an unforgettable run at the Australian Open after entering the draw as a wildcard and advancing to the quarter-finals. Following her retirement, her career continued as a highly sought-after commentator for all four Grand Slams on Channel Nine. Jelena's love life also took off with her whirlwind career off the court. She went public with her new boyfriend Yane Veselinov earlier this month following weeks of speculation about who the mystery man was. Dokic took to Instagram to reveal the identity of her new beau just weeks after published bombshell footage of the pair getting cosy at Melbourne Airport. "You are my calm, safe, peaceful and happy place. So glad I found you," Dokic wrote alongside a romantic snap with her new partner. Yane is a hospitality operations manager who on Instagram describes himself as a "food and wine enthusiast, pleasure seeker and life enjoyer". It comes after Dokic split from her previous partner, Bukic, in late 2022 after an almost two-decade-long relationship.
West Australian
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Lynne McGranger: Home and Away star ‘bewildered' by first Gold Logie nomination
Overwhelmed. Overjoyed. Bewildered. Excited. Lovely. TV legend Lynne McGranger was certainly not lost for adjectives when describing how she felt about receiving her first Gold Logie for most popular personality nomination, alongside fellow female TV royalty and Hamish Blake. The 72-year-old is in the running for the top gong alongside Sonia Kruger, Ally Langdon, Julia Morris, Lisa Millar and Poh Ling Yeow. She is also hoping to take out a silver Logie for best lead actress in a drama. It was the end of an era for the Home and Away favourite, who left the show in March after playing her beloved character Irene Roberts for nearly 33 years. 'Look, if I'd have known this was going to happen, I would have left this show years ago,' she said. 'I already feel like I've gone out on a career high, truly, just because my departure from the bay is one of my proudest achievements. 'And just being nominated for silver and gold is extraordinary, I couldn't have dreamt of anything better. 'And oh gosh, if I win, I'll be speechless. No, who am I kidding? I'm never speechless.' McGranger said if she is awarded the golden trophy, she won't be able to top Larry Emdur's pledge of getting a tattoo on his bum, but has made a promise of her own. 'I promised Larry this morning on The Morning Show that I will carry it with me everywhere for a year,' she said. 'I will show people I don't know on the street. I will say, got a little something to show you, and walk up to complete strangers and drive people mad with it.' Named among a group of nominees consisting of all women, except for Lego Masters Australia's Blake, McGranger said she was honoured to be amongst such 'feminine royalty'. She said it was a testament to the fact that women beyond a certain age were no longer 'invisible'. 'I can imagine what people in Albo's government must have felt like when something's just all full of women and one token man,' she said. 'It really says a lot about women in our society, and women on TV, and all the different roles that we play. And I don't mean that in an acting sense. It's just great that women have been acknowledged, and are being acknowledged. It's truly wonderful.' When the 65th TV Week Logies take place at The Star in Sydney on August 3, it certainly won't be McGranger's first rodeo as she has been attending since her first Logies in 1994 and has probably only missed two or three over the decades. Aside from McGranger getting started on her outfit planning, she is also getting stuck into rehearsals for a play Grandparents Club. It's quite a busy schedule, but one would think the longest-serving female cast member of a TV soap opera in Australia could cope, no worries at all. But really, McGranger said she has been busier since she stopped filming. 'I think when you're just doing one thing and focusing on one thing, you let other things go by the wayside and figure they're not that important and they'll get done,' she said. 'But now, of course, I've just been overwhelmed with everything. 'But you know what, I'm having a good time. I think while you're still above ground, you've got to really just embrace what's going on in your life.' McGranger is back with The Grandparents Club for a second year and said it felt like her acting career had come full circle. 'I started out in community theatre and I just love that life,' she said. 'Honestly, I think I should have been a rock star on the road, because I love touring, and I love all the 'franticness' that goes with that, it's helping to keep me feeling young at heart.' While the play isn't coming to WA at this stage, McGranger said she was disappointed she won't make it over to Perth for Telethon but hoped to make a visit before the year's out. 'I have a feeling, our last show is the night of Telethon. And I said to Jason, my publicist, 'Can't they push Telethon back a week? Because I could come then'. And then he's very kindly said, 'It's not all about you',' she said. 'But you know, that's what happens when you're not on Home and Away anymore.' Lynne McGranger is a nominee for both the Gold and Silver Logies at the 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards, airing exclusively on Seven and 7plus Sunday, 3 August. Click here to vote.
