If there’s one thing we can say about the next season of Australia’s Got Talent, it’s that its judging panel knows talent when they see it.
Announced this morning, How I Met Your Mother and It’s A Sin star Neil Patrick Harris, Aussie TV personality Kate Ritchie, and international judge Alesha Dixon will join old mate Shane Jacobson on the judging panel of this year’s Australia’s Got Talent, meaning that, yes, this season will be legen—wait for it—day. Sorry, the joke was right there begging to be said.
Neil Patrick Harris, who you might remember played Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother and starred in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, is making his big Aussie TV debut here and I simply can’t wait to see him sparkle on screen.
“To say I’m a fan of the AGT franchise is an understatement—I’ve been watching since the very first season,” Neil Patrick Harris said in a statement via TV Blackbox.
“I’m a performer who has taken many stages of my career—be it acting, singing, dancing, hosting, juggling, magic-ing, even breathing fire—and I have developed enormous respect for anyone with the courage to pursue their talents and passions at any level, let alone televised on a national stage.
“Australia has phenomenal talent across so many disciplines, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join AGT in 2021 to see firsthand what the country’s awesome contestants have to offer.”
Kate Ritchie will also make her return to the series after leaving in 2013 and said that she’s excited to see what newfound skills people have mastered during the lockdown.
“People have spent more time at home than usual this past year,” she said.
“Some developed brand new skills and others fine-tuned their already spectacular talents!”
Alesha Dixon, who was “hand-picked” by Britain’s Got Talent creator Simon Cowell, served as a judge on the show for nine (9) years, and said: “I can’t wait to see what talent Australia has to give and I’m really looking forward to working with my fellow judges.”
Well, if the talent show from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under this week is anything to go by, Alesha, expect someone to shove a whole meat pie down their gob.
Previous AGT international judges include Dawn French, Mel B, Ginger Spice, and Timomatic. Beloved Australian singer and pop-girl Ricki-Lee returns as host, too, as well as some surprise celebrity guest judges. Australia’s Got Talent will premiere on Channel Seven and 7plus later this year. While we wait, we’ll be here practicing our exquisite balloon animal tricks and interpretive dance moves.
