Sonia Kruger

Sonia Melissa Kruger (born 28 August 1965) is an Australian television presenter. She is best known for co-hosting the popular Australian version of Dancing with the Stars and for the role of Tina Sparkle in the hit 1992 film Strictly Ballroom. She currently hosts Big Brother Australia and Mornings.

Early life

Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, she attended Beenleigh State High School, completing Year 12 in 1982. Kruger has also completed an Arts Degree at the University of Technology, Sydney and taught dance at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.

Career

In 1992 Kruger came to prominence in her acting debut as "Tina Sparkle" in the AFI Award-Winning film Strictly Ballroom. She also served as a ballroom adviser for the film. This remains as Kruger's only acting role to date. Following Kruger's film debut she hosted the Children's Variety Show Wonder World on the Nine Network. Kruger has been an Entertainment Reporter for both Seven Network shows Today Tonight, Sunrise and 11AM.^[1] Kruger previously hosted the Morning Program on the Sydney based radio station Mix 106.5 with Dancing with the Stars Judges Todd McKenney and Andy Grace.^[2]

In 2004 Kruger joined the Seven Network reality dance competition television series Dancing with the Stars, the Australian version of the UK BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing. She co-hosted the series with both Daryl Somers^[3] and Daniel MacPherson^[4] over the course of the eleven seasons she appeared on. In November 2011 Kruger announced she was leaving both Dancing with the Stars and Seven Network to pursue other opportunities.^[5] Spice Girls member and UK songstress Melanie Brown replaced Kruger for the series' twelfth season which premiered in April 2012. In September 2008 Kruger was confirmed to host the Seven Network makeover reality show 10 Years Younger in 10 Days.^[6] Despite high ratings for its series premiere,^[7] Seven Network did not renew the series for a second season.

In November 2011 Kruger signed a development deal with the Nine Network.^[8] Kruger was confirmed to host her own daytime talk show Mornings with musician David Campbell.^[9] The series replaces Kerri-Anne which was ended that same month.^[10] The series premiered on 6 February 2012.^[11] Kruger was also announced to host Nine Network's reboot of the competition reality television series Big Brother Australia.^[12] Kruger replaces Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O who hosted the series on Network Ten in its eighth season, which was cancelled in 2008.^[13] Big Brother Australia 9 premiered on 13 August 2012 to 1.6 million viewers, the franchise's highest ratings since the series' third season.^[14] Kruger's performance on the show received mixed reviews from critics and viewers. On 22 February 2015, it was announced that Kruger would be joining the fourth series of The Voice Australia as a co-host with Darren McMullen.^[15]

Personal life

Kruger was married for six years to James Davies, a British-born banker.^[16]

After the marriage ended in September 2008 she began seeing her current partner Craig McPherson, executive producer of Today Tonight.^[17] She and McPherson had been trying for a child for years, through both IVF and natural methods.^[18] She became pregnant several times, but miscarried all.^[19] In August 2014, she announced she was pregnant, having conceived via in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).^[18] In January 2015, Kruger gave birth to a daughter.^[20]

Controversy

In 2008, during an episode of Dancing with the Stars, Kruger made a comment about a "sweat shop of illegal immigrants" working on her wardrobe for the Melbourne Cup carnival. Channel 7 later issued an apology for her statement.^[21]

In 2011, she caused further controversy when she wrote "I think it's nice you get on so well with your dad" on her Twitter account regarding the difference in age between dancer Brynne Edelsten and her husband Geoffrey Edelsten.^[22][23]

References

External links

• Sonia Kruger at the Internet Movie Database