The glitter is out in the corridors of the TF1 tower in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine).
This Thursday, January 25 in the evening, the entire “Dancing with the Stars” team met at a large press conference which brought together several hundred people.
“We have a casting that would make the platforms blush,” laughed presenter Camille Combal during the presentation of this thirteenth season, “13 like the iPhone,” slips the host.
With this new edition of the dance competition between celebrities, from February 16 on the air, "it's back to basics on a family show with a generous, fun and colorful jury", specifies Rémi Faure, the director TF1 stream programs.
This year, after nine months of preparation, the competition is marked by new features: more filmed backstage, more group dances.
The mechanics will be simpler: no more red buzzers and no eliminations in the first two prime time.
The first face-to-face will take place on the third evening and will inevitably mark the first elimination.
The “Mike Delfino” from “Desperate Housewives”
Nicolas Archambault, who worked with Madonna and Michael Jackson, joins the dancers.
And the judges will find themselves behind a “desk” even though they were separated in different seats due to Covid.
“It’s also the big return of signs” to hand out notes, laughs Camille Combal.
And in glitter of course.
A choreographer who has collaborated with Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, Mel Charlot is the newcomer to the jury, alongside Jean-Marc Généreux, Chris Marques and Fauve Hautot.
“I came to have fun,” she explained, introducing herself with her Quebec accent.
James Denton, from “Desperate Housewives,” tried his hand at a few words in French.
LP/Fred Dugit
Comedian Inès Reg particularly stood out by making Camille Combal twerk on the ground.
As a candidate, she joins the singer Cœur de pirate (absent during this evening, because she was stuck in Canada due to the snow), the M6 presenter specializing in fashion Cristina Cordula and the American actor James Denton, who played Mike Delfino, the husband of Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) in the series “Desperate Housewives”.
“The others told me
to have fun
”
Comedian Roman Doduik “who stopped smoking to prepare” will also be there, as will singer Black M and “Star Academy” singing teacher (and ex-candidate of “Mask Singer”) Adeline Toniutti.
Former Miss France Diane Leyre will participate in the adventure as in previous editions her predecessors Amandine Petit, Vaimalama Chaves or Linda Hardy.
“The others told me
to have fun
,” she confides.
The other key personalities of the season?
Natasha Saint-Pier, the drag queen Keiona, who won the second season of “Drag Race France” this summer, the businesswoman Caroline Margeridon, who participated in “Affair concluded” but also in “Traitors”, the M6 summer program.
As well as YouTuber Nico Capone.
James Denton, the hunk from “Desperate Housewives,” was particularly applauded during his guest star arrival.
“I’m trying to learn a few words in French,” he said before repeating in English, “I’m trying to learn.”