Interviewer-of-the-stars Dominic Bowden is going to be in the living room of millions of Americans after landing a big gig State-side. The Sky TV entertainment reporter is the new backstage host for the US version of Dancing with the Stars.
"It's pretty amazing," Bowden, 36, told Spy. "Dancing with the Stars was watched by 16 million people this week and they all got to see my mug, woop woop. I've been getting random Twitter messages from all over America, from Kiwis who were stoked to hear a Kiwi accent." After the celebs perform and get their scores, it's Bowden's job to ask them all the juicy questions backstage.
Stars competing this year include model and actor Antonio Sabato Jr, 42, whom Bowden says is driving the temperatures of female fans sky high, and New York Designer 73-year-old Betsey Johnson, whom Bowden describes as wild.
He also raves about new judge Julianne Hough, who is American Idol host Ryan Seacrest's ex. "She is a knock out and so cool. All the stars on the show are great fun."
It's a case of back to the future for Bowden. In 2008 he became the first Kiwi to host a live TV show on ABC's back lot. Reality television talent show The Next Great American band only lasted a season (back then the lot was owned by CBS), but Bowden's love affair with Hollywood has lasted since.
Working on the same lot, Bowden has reported for X Factor and Sky TV.
So what about X Factor NZ? "Never fear, X Factor NZ have been amazing and I will finish the season here and then return to XF auditions. In fact, I will get right off the plane and straight into it."
The news comes hot on the heels of the big US gig landed by Almighty Johnsons' star Dean O'Gorman. He'll play screen legend Kirk Douglas in the movie about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who is being played by Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. Dame Helen Mirren and Diane Lane are also in the cast.
O'Gorman will hit the big screen this December reprising his role as dwarf Fili in The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies.