Dancing's Katherine Jenkins: I Don't Want Any Expectations Put on Us

Dancing's Katherine Jenkins: I Don't Want Any Expectations Put on Us

After the highest-scoring Dancing with the Stars premiere ever, only one person has remained at the top: Katherine Jenkins. The classical singer and her partner Mark Ballas have led the leader board for three weeks running — earning two 10s for her heartfelt waltz in tribute to her late father last week. She will look to four-peat Monday with her paso doble for Rock Week. "It's wild! Never in my life would I think I'd be doing this well and would be getting these marks and comments," Jenkins tells TVGuide.com. "But I'm not concerning myself too much with scores or trying to [maintain a streak]. You can't think about that." See what else the Welsh native has to say about joining the show, the fan reaction and shaking her naughty bits.

You're doing so well. Are you aware of your three-week streak on top?
Katherine Jenkins: Yes, sometimes it's pointed out to me, but I immediately forget about it. I'm really amazed by the scores and the reaction that we're getting. I'm having the most fun. I just want to continue it. It was really important for me to get through that first elimination week because I knew if I got to Week 3, it would be Storytelling Week and I would have a chance to do a dance for my dad and celebrate his life! That's really what I've been focused on the past few weeks. He would've never believed that I did that. I feel happy that I was able to do that and I'm so grateful to Mark. He really understood what I wanted to say.

And you got the first 10s of the season.
Jenkins: I know! It didn't enter my head that we would get 10s. I could see that everybody was doing well all night. All we wanted to do was go out and do as well as we thought we could do and for me to feel like I did my dad proud. Because of all the emotion, I didn't think about what scores we could get. My face — when I watched it back, it's hilarious! I couldn't believe it!

Everyone, understandably, is pegging you as the favorite now. Do you feel like you are or are you ignoring all the chatter?
Jenkins: It's lovely to hear, but I don't want to hear it. I don't want to be called that. I'm taking it week by week, and anything can happen to any of us. You're only as good as the week you're working on. I don't want any of the extra pressure because this is a fun experience and something I want to keep enjoying. I don't want any of the expectations put on us.

Did you have any expectations yourself when you started?
Jenkins: I had absolutely no clue how I was gonna do. In my day job, I stand in one place and sing with an orchestra behind me. It doesn't really require any movement! Yes, when I was young, I took a few tap-dancing classes, but they weren't training classes. I stopped all that once I realized I wanted to do classical singing. I've never thought about dancing and now that I'm doing it, I'm loving it!

When the cast was announced, you and William Levy were the least known and now you're both the people everyone's talking about. But that's sort of been true in past seasons — lesser-known cast members break out.
Jenkins: Yeah, I came into this understanding of the situation and not being naïve. I knew that when I came here that hardly anyone would know me and that was part of the challenge in a nice way. I just thought, "Well, it's really nice to just be here for dancing and to work hard and hopefully bring some enjoyment to some people." It's so nice the way things have worked out. I go out to dinner and people come up to me. It's crazy what's happening! I feel so welcomed here in America. I really am loving being in the country and feeling the support we're getting. I couldn't ask for anything nicer.

Have you been asked to do the show before?
Jenkins: This is the first time I've been asked to do this show. I've been asked to do the U.K. one, but it never worked out. But you have two seasons here a year and the timing was right. I feel like this was a gift that was given to me at the right point in my life and I said, "You know what? I actually really want to do this." I didn't think about it too long. And Mark is amazing. I am so thrilled to have him. I know how lucky I am. I feel like you can see when the couples don't get on, when they don't have that connection. I was really worried when I met him, like "What if we don't click?" But as soon as he walked into the room, I was like, "Yeah, we'll be fine." We've been working seven weeks now and we're having a blast.

And he created the Welsh Wiggle for you.
Jenkins: I know! [Laughs] That's taken on a life of its own! I don't think there'll be any in the paso doble. Maybe it'll come up down the road if we stay on.

Were you really that nervous "shaking your naughty bits" for the jive?
Jenkins: [Laughs] I was really, really nervous about that! I think that comes from, you know, how I generally perform being the opposite of that. But he's brilliant at bringing out the different sides of me that I need for each dance. This week, we have the paso doble, which again is so different from how I would be. It's a very powerful dance and he said in the seven weeks he's known me that he's never seen an ounce of aggression from me! So I'm not sure how I'm gonna do with this one.

What's been the hardest thing so far?
Jenkins: I think probably dealing with the nerves and ... being able to keep it together while the emotions were running away from me. That was the biggest challenge. I said to Mark before we danced that if they put a picture of my dad up on the screen I'm gonna lose it and forget everything he taught me. So he was so cute — he was just singing complete rubbish in my ear and making me laugh. He was my rock. I'm just grateful that he held me together.

What do you think of the dance-off addition in the results shows now?
Jenkins: That is how they do it in the U.K., so that's how I've always known it. I guess it just makes it really exciting that it goes down to a duel at the end. I find Tuesdays so difficult. They're so stressful. You don't want to go home, of course, but we have really bonded and I don't want to see anybody go home. I was devastated to see Jack [Wagner] go. Everybody's so good, so it's hard saying goodbye.

Since it's Rock Week, what are your favorite rock songs and bands?
Jenkins: Well, if I told you some of that, it would give it away what our song is! [Laughs] To be honest, that's not really the music I listen to, hence why it's gonna be more of a challenge for me, but I'm really excited by our song, so you'll just have to wait and see.

'Winners and Losers' Melissa Bergland: 'I'll be nervous for Logies'

'Winners and Losers' Melissa Bergland: 'I'll be nervous for Logies'

Melissa Bergland has revealed that she will probably be nervous at this year's Logie Awards.

The Australian actress, who is nominated in the 'Most Popular New Female Talent' and 'Most Outstanding New Talent' categories at the annual ceremony for her role in Winners and Losers, said that her dress for the event has not even arrived yet.

Bergland told the Herald Sun that she ordered her gown online from Finland, saying: "It was kind of a last-minute thing, I saw it and I was like, 'Where do I have to get this from?'

"How long does it take for things to come from Finland? So it's kind of a race against the clock to see if the dress gets here on time. I've got a few back-up options."

She said of her nomination: "I don't think it's actually going to hit me until 24 hours before, and then Saturday night I'll be like, 'Oh my God'. I have a list of must-mentions, but I haven't written anything out and I don't know what my chances are."

Winners and Losers is nominated for 'Most Popular Drama Series' at the Logie Awards, while Bergland's co-star Tom Wren is up for the 'Most Popular New Male Talent' prize.

'Dancing with the Stars' Johnny Ruffo 'happy to take shirt off'

'Dancing with the Stars' Johnny Ruffo 'happy to take shirt off'

Dancing with the Stars contestant Johnny Ruffo has revealed that he is happy to strip off during his time on the show.

The 23-year-old Australian singer, who is taking part in this year's season of the reality TV series alongside celebrities such as Brendan Fevola, Vogue Williams and Kerri-Anne Kennerley, said that he will do whatever it takes to win votes from viewers.

Ruffo told the Herald Sun: "The first week I feel there's a chance I'm going home my shirt will be coming off."

He also revealed that he is currently single after being nominated for this year's CLEO magazine 'Bachelor of the Year' recently.

Ruffo shot to fame when he came third in last year's Australian X Factor. This year, he will be supporting One Direction on their Australian tour.

Dancing with the Stars premieres on Sunday, April 15 on the Seven Network.

PRIMETIME PILOT PANIC: The Early Buzz

PRIMETIME PILOT PANIC: The Early Buzz

Back by popular demand: The Pilot Buzz lists. We’re earlier than normal this year while pilots have generally been late, with only a handful of them having cuts by now and the vast majority still in various stages of production. Therefore, everything on this list has to be taken with a gigantic grain of salt as a lot could change between a table read and a final cut. Take NBC’s comedy pilot SAVE ME for example. After some mixed and even negative chatter early on, mostly related to the tone of the show, originally developed for Showtime, the tide changed completely over the last two days when people saw the completed pilot, which is getting high marks. The list also doesn’t cover every pilot as some of them have not gotten into production yet or feedback has been insufficient:

The network already has one new scripted series on tap for next season, HANNIBAL, which I hear may go for midseason. With the network in such bad shape after years of neglect and bad decisions by previous regimes, NBC seems to have cast a very wide net this season, developing a vast range of projects that are all over the map, making it harder to handicap. On the drama side, mystery MIDNIGHT SUN and the Jekyll & Hyde-esque DO NO HARM are getting some solid early buzz. The Jason Katims/Jason Ritter medical drama COUNTY, which just wrapped, also has been getting positive feedback. Western-esque THE FRONTIER, which is shooting in Australia, is getting notices for its rich look. Comedy-wise, ANIMAL KINGDOM is hot, as is White House family comedy 1600 PENN, despite a last-minute recasting, as well as the Matthew Perry starrer GO ON and Greg Daniels’ FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER. The network also is high on a couple of multi-camera comedies, LADYFRIENDS  and the untitled JIMMY FALLON, with TABLE FOR THREE also looking encouraging so far. The Ryan Murphy/Ali Adler blended family comedy THE NEW NORMAL is still shooting but, with the auspices involved, it is considered a strong contender. NBC brass seem to like the SARAH SILVERMAN pilot, which had an early order, but Silverman is considered acquired taste, so a lot will depend on testing.

The KEVIN WILLIAMSON project was very strong at the script stage, got even stronger with the casting of Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy, and seems to be sailing through production. Meanwhile the untitled KARYN USHER teen-spy drama, which also was an early standout during the script phase, then hit a speed bump in casting the lead, which took a very long time, now appears to be in great shape, with newcomer Saxon Sharbino getting strong reviews. The Williamson and Karyn projects seem to be the top drama contenders at the moment, with Fox’s other female CIA agent pilot, THE ASSET, right behind them and GUILTY and BERMAN/WRIGHT further down at the moment. Off-cycle pilot LITTLE BROTHER, whose plug almost got pulled after difficulties casting one of the leads, is making early waves on the comedy side. I hear Fox brass are impressed by John Stamos and his chemistry with TJ Miller. Also getting solid early buzz is the comedy EL JEFE, about a privileged young man moving in with his Latina nanny, and the MINDY KALING medical office comedy, mostly because of its star/creator Kaling. I’ve been hearing some mixed early buzz on half-hour pilots LIKE FATHER and LIVING LOADED, but with A-list auspices Bill Lawrence and Rob McElhenney behind them, judgement has to be held until they are completed.

High-profile drama pilots RALPH LAMB and ELEMENTARY look very good early on. In addition to strong buzz, period drama Ralph Lamb boasts a cast that includes Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Jason O’Mara, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Elementary already has fans buzzing about the tweaks the network is making to the classic Sherlock Holmes franchise with this contemporary update. Despite the difficulties casting the lead (Rachelle Lefevre eventually got the role in second position to A Gifted Man), I hear mom-turned-PI drama pilot APPLEBAUM has strong support at the network, with another female procedural, the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced TROOPER, about a mom-turned-state trooper, also getting early buzz. On the comedy side, after a casting tweak after the table read, PARTNERS looks good, while reaction to DORF/FALCONE has been mixed. Most of CBS’ comedy pilot are very late, so not much intel here.

Like NBC, ABC may already have a series for next season. Soap MISTRESSES, which was ordered straight-to-series for summer 2013, is filming a pilot episode with the regular ABC pilots, and I hear it will get consideration for launch next season, which is what ABC did with midseason entry Missing, originally ordered for summer. When Mistresses will premiere may depend on how ABC’s five soapy pilots, SCRUPLES, AMERICANA, NASHVILLE, DEVIOUS MAIDS and GILDED LILYS turn out. So far, I hear strong buzz on Gilded Lilys, though all five boast top auspices and/or big-name actors. ABC’s fantasy/supernatural pilots 666 PARK AVE, GOTHAM and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST look in good shape early on, especially 666 Park Ave, which is hot. The question is whether the network will pick up only one of them as a companion for Once Upon A Time. In the testosterone minority of ABC’s drama slate, the Shawn Ryan/Karl Gajdusek’s LAST RESORT is showing promise, while buzz on the Roland Emmerich/Harold Kloser project has been mixed. On the comedy side, PRAIRIE DOGS, the raunchy AWESOMETOWN and Claudia Lonow’s family comedy HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE are getting strong early buzz. Also, Reba McEntire is a big audience draw, making her sitcom MALIBU COUNTRY an automatic contender.

If there is such thing as sure thing so early, the CW’s ARROW and THE CARRIE DIARIES would be it. They have pre-sold titles and are already making a lot of noise. Both were solid pre-production, received mostly favorable reaction to the fist images of the title characters released last month, and the strong buzz continues. Another pilot with a instantly recognizable title, BEAUTY & THE BEAST, also has been garnering buzz, while medical drama FIRST CUT has had people raving about Meryl Streep’s daughter Mamie Gummer who plays the lead. And then there is a pilot, whose chances improved over the last two weeks for reasons completely unrelated to the actual pilot — THE SELECTION. In picking it up, the network took a page from its own playbook several years ago, when, on the heels of the success of the first Twilight movie, the network ordered to pilot the similarly-themed Vampire Diaries. This year, the CW did the same with the Hunger Games-esque THE SELECTION in anticipation that the movie would be big. The film indeed has been an instant smash, boosting the chances of The Selection.

'Real Housewives of New York' confirms new stars

'Real Housewives of New York' confirms new stars

Aviva Drescher, Carole Radziwill and Heather Thomson have been named as the new stars of Real Housewives of New York.

The trio were confirmed as participants in the Bravo reality show at an event in Manhattan last night, Us Weekly reports.

They are intended as replacements for former stars Cindy Barshop, Alex McCord, Jill Zarin and Kelly Bensimon, who were dropped from the show last year.

Drescher, a mother of three, is married to a noted banker and is a cousin of comedic actress Fran Drescher. Her left foot and ankle were amputated when she was 6 years old after an accident.

Radziwill is the widow of Prince Anthony Radziwill, the nephew of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. She has previously worked for ABC News and Glamour.

Meanwhile, Thomson, who has two children, designs the line Yummie Tummie and previously worked as a celebrity stylist.

Stars LuAnn de Lesseps, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan will all return for the new season of Real Housewives of New York, which will air on Bravo.

'Biggest Loser' Australian eliminated contestants return

'Biggest Loser' Australian eliminated contestants return

Three former contestants from The Biggest Loser Australia have returned to the game.

Brenda Hunt, Lydia Hantke and Rebekah Gilchrist all won the right to re-enter the weight loss reality television show in last night's episode.

Hunt and Gilchrist were both eliminated weeks ago, while Lydia left The Biggest Loser compound last week. They then all joined a secret training group run by Shannan Ponton, beating other past contestants such as Luke Stephens and Hamish Elliott to get the chance to weigh in again.

Former red team members Hunt and Hantke both rejoined the game after being the most successful weight losers that week, leaving Gilchrist, Lisa Ritherdon and Simon Hurley to face the vote.

Housemates Margie Cummins, Graham Pilson, Alex Zorzi, Michelle Cortesao and Kasey Cheesman were all asked to vote for which of the trio they would like to see return to The Biggest Loser.

Cummins said that she was torn between choosing Gilchrist because her positivity was "needed" in the house and Ritherdon because they used to be teammates, but in the end voted for Ritherdon. After some of the other housemates described Ritherdon and Hurley as "big threats", Gilchrist received the most votes and was reinstated into the competition.

She said: "I'm really excited to have the opportunity to officially be a Biggest Loser contestant again and I have to say thank you to those who are going to hopefully embrace me back in the house. It's really exciting.

"I would like to think that people think I'm awesome and want me back in the house, [but] I think that has very little to do with it. I think that I'm not a threat and that's why I got back in."

New couple Ritherdon and Hurley said that they were disappointed not to win the opportunity to re-enter the game, but said that they were happy to be leaving the game "fitter, stronger, healthier" and in a "magnificent" relationship with each other.

Simon Cowell 'to drop nasty image to compete with The Voice UK'

Simon Cowell 'to drop nasty image to compete with The Voice UK'

Simon Cowell will reportedly attempt to adopt a more "gentle" image in order to keep up with The Voice UK.

The Britain's Got Talent judge is said to be concerned that the more light-hearted BBC One show has started to overtake BGT in the ratings.

An insider told The Sun: "He'll learn lessons from it."

The Voice UK attracted four million more viewers than Britain's Got Talent during their 20-minute crossover between 8pm and 8.20pm.

The source added: "Simon wasn't happy when he saw the ratings. He likes to be number one in everything he does. He has told producers they must make BGT even better.

"He is known as being a perfectionist and this will will only renew his desire to beat The Voice."

Cowell is also said to be concerned about musicians opting to appear on The Voice UK instead of The X Factor later this year.

"The big fear is that viewers will start seeing The Voice as the leading singing show," said the source. "That would mean the best singers flocking to apply to it instead of The X Factor - and these shows live or die on their talent.

They added: "Simon always learns lessons. He will be seriously considering whether he has to be nicer to contestants. He has softened his Mr Nasty image over the years. But maybe now he needs to turn fully into Mr Nice. It's clear viewers are starting to get a taste for more positive shows."

Cowell congratulated the BBC over The Voice UK's ratings win at the weekend.