Dannii Minogue joins S9 of Sky Living’s Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model
TV judge and mentor Dannii Minogue is to join executive producer, host and global supermodel Elle Macpherson, and US supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford in the new look ninth season of "Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model" when it returns to Sky Living next year.
With fellow Australian and entrepreneur Elle Macpherson at the helm and international supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford by her side, Dannii Minogue will take the final coveted seat on this year's judging panel which promises to be the biggest shakeup yet to the brand, and the toughest yet for the aspiring models to try and impress.
Dannii has dedicated much of her time these past few years to the fashion industry and was honoured to be Ambassador for Australia’s Melbourne Spring Fashion Week in 2011. She is co-founder of the hugely successful Project D London fashion label that has attracted numerous high-profile fans including Kate Middleton, Pippa Middleton, Kylie Minogue and Elizabeth Hurley. Her reputation and expertise as a worldwide icon were confirmed when UK Vogue named Dannii in their top three most stylish women in the world that same year. With her prime-time TV mentoring skills and modeling credentials, regularly starring in Marks & Spencer advertising campaigns, Dannii Minogue brings a vast array of insight and knowledge to her new judging role in Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model.
Dannii says: “I am brushing up on my model moves and with my highest platform heels on, I am excited to come face to face with (well maybe look up to) the glamazons of BINTM 2013”
“Next Top Model has always been a part of my essential TV viewing and I am so excited to be back in the UK for Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model’s ninth series. Whoop! Mentoring and judging has been a major part of my life since 2007. It will be great to strut some fashion and modeling experience with the girls. I remember Elle’s first magazine cover in Australia and I have been a fan of hers since then. I am looking forward to joining Elle, Tyson and the contestants to find the next biggest star. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Sky Living team. Bring on 2013!”
With a long and illustrious career spanning over 30 years, there is no disputing that Dannii, one of Australia's biggest-ever exports, has an amazing eye for spotting new talent on both sides of the globe; having held judging panel positions on two of the world's most successful TV shows The X Factor and Australia's Got Talent. This year she completed her 6th series in Australia and was the only original judge remaining on the panel. In 2010, four years after joining The X Factor UK, Dannii completed her final series alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole.
Awards Dannii has received include TV Personality of the Year, Style Icon, Celeb of the Year, Favourite Judge and Best Dressed Judge - all for her work as judge and mentor and from prestigious titles such as Elle and Glamour magazines - firmly cementing Dannii's place as one of the world's favourite television personalities. It is due to Dannii’s outstanding international career and major contribution to the entertainment industry that she was recently awarded the honorary degree - Doctorate of Media - at a special ceremony on board the HQS Wellington in London by Southampton Solent University.
Executive Producer Elle Macpherson will continue her reign as host and mentor for the fourth time, bringing her unrivalled and enduring expertise in the fashion world.
Elle Macpherson is a prominent figure in business, fashion, film and television, having carved out a diverse and purposeful career over the past 30 years. Every endeavor Elle has undertaken has been with people or products that are true to her and resonate with her values.
Elle's early modeling career led to a record-breaking five Sports Illustrated covers, affording her global recognition and the nickname 'The Body'. In true entrepreneurial spirit Elle wanted to leverage the street recognition she had built by modeling, through an innovative business venture. Elle Macpherson Intimates became the top-selling lingerie line in the UK and Australia and is stocked in 22 countries worldwide. Elle now finds herself at the helm of a growing group of life brands that bear her name.
Taking a similarly progressive approach, Elle took on a new TV role as both host and Executive Producer from the sixth series of Britain’s and Ireland’s Next Top Model. Elle and the team raised the profile of the show, resulting in increased distribution into over 65 different countries. Taking the format forward, Elle launched and continues to exec-produce NBC's Fashion Star, the innovative reality-fashion-competition series met with great success, selling to 75 countries at MIPTV in 2012.
Elle says, "I am so pleased to once again be Executive Producing and hosting Britain and Irelands Next Top Model, which has become a jewel in Sky Living’s summer schedule. I am really enthusiastic about working with Dannii. I have watched her blossom into a powerhouse in fashion and television and believe she will bring a fresh energy to the show – plus she’s gorgeous!!
Tyson Beckford is one of the World's most successful male models and has been named Sexiest Man Alive twice by People Magazine. He arrived on the fashion scene in 1993 and very quickly established himself as one of the most sought after male models in the world, gracing countless magazine covers from The Face to L'Uomo Vogue and appearing on catwalks around the world. After fronting the Autumn 1994 Polo Sport campaign, shot by Bruce Weber, Ralph Lauren went onto to sign Tyson to an exclusive five year contract as both the face and spokesperson for their Polo range. With this history-making contract under his belt, in 1995 Tyson was voted 'Male Model of the Year' at VH1's Fashion & Music Awards.
Tyson says, "I’m really looking forward to another season full of excitement and drama alongside a brand new judge.”
As well as modeling, Tyson has starred in numerous music videos for artists including Britney Spears, Toni Braxton and 50 Cent, and hosted "Make Me a Supermodel". In addition, he has acted in a number of films alongside the likes of Ben Stiller (Zoolander) and Jessica Alba (Into The Blue). With 20 years of experience as one of the World's most sought after male models, Tyson has proved he can offer an unparalleled insight into the industry.
Antonia Hurford-Jones, Director of Sky Living, says “We're all so excited about the next series of Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model. The combination of Dannii, Elle and Tyson, with their incredible credentials, feels like a true fashion tour de force. We’re absolutely delighted to be welcoming Dannii to Sky Living and can't wait for her to bring all her passion, experience and energy to one of our most important brands. She’ll be joining a whole host of star names on Sky Living in 2013, in what is going a very special year for the channel. There's so much coming up for our customers to look forward to.”
With the new look judging panel, the forthcoming ninth season of Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model will continue to raise the bar for the select group of aspiring young models. As ever, the girls will be competing against each other in a compelling combination of glamorous photoshoots and grueling challenges to win the competition and will join the likes of Jade Thompson and this year's winner Letitia Herod whose modeling careers have gone from strength to strength since leaving the show, shooting campaigns for Urban Outfitters, ASOS, Ted Baker, Schwarzkopf, i-D Magazine and Boohoo to name but a few.
Each week, Elle, Dannii and Tyson will eliminate one contestant in their quest to find a new cover star and with the combined knowledge and experience that the judges will bring to the show, the new series of Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model is guaranteed to be the most explosive yet. With a superlative prize package that includes a modeling contract, plus even more surprises up for grabs - catfights, tears and tantrums are guaranteed.
Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model: Series 9 is a Thumbs Up production, and will air later in 2013. The series will be once again be sponsored by TRESemme.
The series is part of Sky's commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels. This commitment follows the success of home-grown content such as entertainment hits including: Got To Dance and A League of Their Own, dramas Bedlam, Mad Dogs and Treasure Island, and the BAFTA-winning documentary Flying Monsters 3D.
Notes to editor
For more information please contact:
For all Sky Living and general show enquiries please contact:
Jakki Lewis, PR Manager on: jakki.lewis@bskyb.com / +44 207 032 1494 / +44 7710 579911
Enquiries for Dannii only to:
Simon Jones at Hackford Jones PR on: +44 207 636 8715 / +44 7990 555291
simon@hjpr.co.uk
Enquiries for Elle and Tyson only to:
Jonathan Hackford at Hackford Jones PR on: +44 207 636 8715 / +44 7919 398875 jonathan@hjpr.co.uk
About Sky
Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.
Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.3 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News. Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.
Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator. Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.
Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi. NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV. Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.
Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts. Sky employs 23,000 people, has annual revenues of £6.8 billion and is estimated to support a £5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY). www.sky.com/corporate