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Jason Gunn and Candy Lane - Source: TVNZ -
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View our blog with all the action from the premiere here
Hit show Dancing With The Stars kicked off its fifth season on Tuesday night with eight new entertainers and sporting stars donning their dancing shoes for their favourite charity.
And with more people choosing a cheap night in front of the tele during the recession, producers are hoping for their best ratings yet.
Security surrounding the show has been tight. Costumes and routines were top secret and those competing had the chance to size up their competition.
"It's all just about the game at the moment, everyone's psyching each other out pretending to be nice," says contestant Rebecca Hobbs.
One of Hobb's competitors is brother Chris, and the competing siblings are already past the niceities.
Professional dancer Stefano Olivieri has won the past two seasons. His celebrity partner is only too aware of the attention he's gained.
"He is a bigger celebrity than me, going out on the street with him has raised my 'cred'," quips actress Geraldine Brophy.
But after four seasons why watch the fifth?
Host Jason Gunn explains "it's never the same...you've got eight new people packing themselves."
And then there's always the skimpy outfits.
"I don't think I'll ever get happy about the outfits, I think that's the biggest contention of people winding me up is the colours and the lack of clothing, says rugby celeb Josh Kronfeld.
