Ex-Act leaders back Seymour
Act leader David Seymour may have people begging him to withdraw from reality television show Dancing with the Stars, but two prominent former Act Party leaders say the publicity can only be good for the brand.
With the original field of 12 celebrity dancers down to six, and another elimination round this evening, Seymour’s detractors say he should bow out gracefully. But Seymour has vowed to keep dancing until he’s voted off.
Former Act leader Richard Prebble said Seymour was improving the party’s image.
“You don’t manage to stay in a competition like that unless you’ve actually got some real ability,” Prebble said.
“One of the challenges the Act brand’s always had is, it’s lacked a little likeability, and David Seymour has clearly got that in spades.”
Another former Act leader, Don Brash, admitted he hadn’t watched DWTS but was intrigued by the number of people backing Seymour.
“The Act party vote has diminished over the years and he’s tried the serious policy work and it hasn’t helped him a great deal.
“He’s trying something else and congratulations to him for that. I admire him for trying.”
Brash confessed he was asked to appear on the show some years ago.
“I can’t recall what year it was but I clearly recall thinking about it and deciding it wasn’t for me.
“I’m not about to take it on. Rodney Hide, of course, did — with not necessarily a desirable outcome.”
Hide, another former Act leader, appeared on DWTS in 2006 while a sitting MP.
He was voted off after he dropped his dance partner Krystal Stuart at the end of the cha cha. They received a score of four out of 40 for what was called a “terrible” performance.