Paula Abdul joins Carrie Bickmore on new season of So You Think You Can Dance

EXCLUSIVE: Channel Ten is bringing starpower to its reboot of So You Think You Can Dance, signing Paula Abdul as a judge.

So You Think You Can Dance judge Shannon Holtzapffel. Picture: Channel 10

SHE'S long put away the pompoms as the original LA Laker girl, but Paula Abdul will be part of a new cheer squad charged with uncovering local talent when she plays judge on Channel 10's new reboot of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

The controversial singer and reality TV personality, who made global headlines for her crazy antics in the early seasons of American Idol, leads a brand new panel of SYTYCD, after Ten cleared the decks of the popular series it shelved four years ago.

The Project's Carrie Bickmore will host a youthful reinvention of the Shine production, while Abdul joins Aussie ballroom king Jason Gilkison, hot choreographer Shannon Holtzapffel and Tap Dogs star Aaron Cash in the all new judging line-up.

For Bickmore, it's a chance to reconnect with her little known dance pedigree, revealing she was on track to study ballet at West Australia's Academy of Performing Arts before detouring to journalism and a Logie-winning career in broadcast TV.

Carrie Bickmore. Picture: Supplied

"I have loved dancing since I was a little girl. I remember when I first watched the show years ago that it was a production I would have love to be involved with. It's fun, high energy and you can't help but be awe-struck by the talent of the dancers," Bickmore told News Corp.

"It will be great to have someone so bold and dynamic on the show like Paula. And as for the boys, I'm used to taming them (on The Project)," she said, laughing.

Abdul comes to the Australian series after a recent stint on the US version, but it's the local talent here she's excited about helping to discover.

"I am thrilled to be a part of this great show and to experience first-hand the skill, passion and athleticism of these dancers. Aussie dancers are without doubt some of the best in the world and it is an honour for me to be a part of finding Australia's best dancer."

Ten programming boss Beverley McGarvey has gambled on the reborn series being "one of the big entertainment television events of 2014" - with higher expectations for it to perform better than the network's last dance misstep, Everybody Dance Now.

The US series, hosted by Cat Deeley, remains a strong ratings performer for the network's Eleven channel here.

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