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Award-winning performer and TV personality Louise Redknapp is joining 'Nasty' Nigel Lythgoe and Arlene Phillips on the judging panel for new Ö÷²¥´óÐã One series So You Think You Can Dance.

Louise has already judged auditions and Choreography Camp, helping select the final 14 finalists, which can be seen on this Saturday's launch show (2 January 2010) at 6.00pm.

Now she will become a permanent, weekly fixture on the panel.

Louise says: "I'm so excited about this opportunity. I went through similar dance training as a lot of the kids competing, so I know where they're coming from.

"The opportunity this show offers them is phenomenal, and I can't wait to be part of the live shows."

After starting her career with Nineties chart-topping girl band Eternal, Louise embarked on a successful solo career before moving into TV, presenting programmes such as The Clothes Show and the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Royal Ascot Coverage.

She also demonstrated journalism skills with the observational documentary The Truth About Size Zero in 2007.

In 2008 she took part in and won a special Sport Relief edition of Celebrity Apprentice which raised almost £800,000.

So You Think You Can Dance Head Judge Nigel Lythgoe says: "Louise joined us as a guest judge during the Manchester leg of the auditions, and we loved her – she brought something different to the panel and she had a great affinity with the kids up there dancing for their lives.

"When it came to thinking about the live shows, we kept coming back to Louise. She is perfect for the job."

So You Think You Can Dance is on the hunt to find Britain's favourite dancer, offering the lucky winner the opportunity to dance on the US version of the show in Hollywood, and take home a £100,000 prize.

But, in order to get there, competitors will be pushed right out of their comfort zones.

Each week they will be challenged to different styles of dance, like hip-hop, jazz, Broadway, lyrical and contemporary, with a new routine taught by a different choreographer and mentor.

And it won't be just the judges they have to impress – viewers will have the ultimate power to vote for their favourite dancers at the end of each live show.

So You Think You Can Dance begins on Saturday 2 January with a pre-recorded launch show.

The live studio shows with audience vote commence on Saturday 9 January.

So You Think You Can Dance was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe, and originally produced by 19 Entertainment Ltd. and dick clark productions, inc. So You Think You Can Dance in the UK is a co-production between Ö÷²¥´óÐã in-house Entertainment and 19 Productions.

EB/SM4