Introduction
Jason Gardiner (born 6 November 1971) is an Australian choreographer, singer, and theatre producer best known for his role as a caustic and controversial judge on the ITV shows Dancing on Ice, Born to Shine and Stepping Out.
Gardiner was a judge on the first series of the BBC talent show Strictly Dance Fever. From 2006 to 2011, Gardiner was one of the original judges on the ITV show Dancing on Ice. Gardiner returned to Dancing on Ice for its eighth series in 2013, but the show was cancelled after its ninth series in 2014. He returned as a judge on the show in 2018, before leaving the show for a second time in 2019.
In 2006, Gardiner was one of the judges invited to take part in Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice, an Australian version of Dancing on Ice, screened on the Nine Network.
Early life
Adopted at the age of six months, Gardiner was born in Melbourne and grew up in at rural Victoria. He was bullied at school for being homosexual and suffered from anorexia for two years until he came to terms with his sexuality at the age of 16.
At 12, Gardiner wrote and submitted his first musical and was the youngest ever applicant to attend The Workshop in Sydney.
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Strictly Dance Fever | Judge | |
| 2006 | Live @ 5.30 | Regular Panellist | |
| Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice | Judge | ||
| 2006–2011, 2013–2014, 2018-2019 | Dancing on Ice | Judge | |
| 2009–2012 | This Morning | Various roles | |
| 2011 | Born to Shine | Judge | |
| Alone in the Wild | Contestant | ||
| 2013 | Stepping Out | Judge | |
| 2016 | Bear Grylls: Mission Survive | Contestant | |
| Battlechefs | Contestant | ||
| 2018 | Ant and Dec Saturday Night Takeaway | Series 15 mini series Saturday Knight Takeaway | Himself, Member of The Dishonoured |
Film
- 1998 – Cats – Alonzo
Guest appearances
- Daily Cooks Challenge – Celebrity judge
- The Chase: Celebrity Special (26 October 2013) – Contestant
- The Great Sport Relief Bake Off (January 2014) – Contestant
- Celebrity Juice (13 March 2014) – Guest
- Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (6 August 2014) – Contestant
- Let's Do Christmas with Gino & Mel (11 December 2014) – Guest