# Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series) season 20

The twentieth season of the Australian Dancing with the Stars premiered on 18 June 2023 on Seven.
Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger returned as hosts, while Todd McKenney and Mark Wilson returned to the judging panel. Craig Revel Horwood and Sharna Burgess, who had both served as judges when the series aired on Network 10, replaced Helen Richey and Paul Mercurio. Richey was unavailable due to her husband recovering from surgery, while Mercurio was focused on his political career as a member of the Parliament of Victoria.

## Couples

This season featured fourteen celebrity contestants. The line-up was announced on 11 May 2023.
| Celebrity | Notability | Professional partner | Status |
| Matt Preston | Food critic & television presenter | Jessica Raffa | Withdrew on 2 July 2023 |
| Charlie Albone | Better Homes and Gardens landscaper | Ruby Gherbaz | Eliminated 1st on 9 July 2023 |
| Gavin Wanganeen | AFL player | Megan Wragg | Eliminated 2nd on 16 July 2023 |
| Issa Schultz | The Chase Australia star | Lily Cornish | Eliminated 3rd & 4th on 16 July 2023 |
| James Magnussen | Olympic swimmer | Natalie Lowe | Eliminated 3rd & 4th on 16 July 2023 |
| Sally Pearson | Olympic hurdler & 7NEWS presenter | Mitch Kirkby | Eliminated 5th on 17 July 2023 |
| Laura Byrne | Podcaster & radio presenter | Danil Saveliev | Eliminated 6th & 7th on 17 July 2023 |
| Pia Miranda | Film & television actress | Declan Taylor | Eliminated 6th & 7th on 17 July 2023 |
| Christie Whelan Browne | Stage & screen actress | Craig Monley | Finalists on 23 July 2023 |
| Mary Coustas | Comedian & actress | Aric Yegudkin | Finalists on 23 July 2023 |
| Paulini | Singer-songwriter | Igor Ifliand | Finalists on 23 July 2023 |
| Virginia Gay | Stage & screen actress | Ian Waite | Finalists on 23 July 2023 |
| Emily Weir | Home and Away actress | Lyu Masuda | Runners-up on 23 July 2023 |
| Phil Burton | Human Nature singer | Ash-Leigh Hunter | Winners on 23 July 2023 |

## Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).
Color key:
Dancing with the Stars (season 20) - Weekly scores :
| Couple | Pl. | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Couple | Pl. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1+3 | 4 | 2+4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Couple | Pl. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1+3 | 4 | 2+4 | Night 1 | Night 2 | 6 |
| Phil & Ash-Leigh | 1st | — | 29 | — | — | 35 | 64 | — | 39 | 39† |
| Emily & Lyu | 2nd | 26 | — | 40† | 66† | — | — | 35† | — | 39† |
| Virginia & Ian | 3rd | — | 32† | — | — | 36† | 68† | — | 40† | 36 |
| Christie & Craig | 3rd | — | 30 | — | — | 34 | 64 | — | 37 | 36 |
| Mary & Aric | 3rd | 18 | — | 26 | 44 | — | — | 34 | — | 31 |
| Paulini & Igor | 3rd | 28† | — | 30 | 58 | — | — | 25 | — | 30‡ |
| Pia & Declan | 7th | — | 23 | — | — | 24 | 47 | — | 33 | |
| Laura & Danil | 7th | — | 19 | — | — | 28 | 47 | — | 19‡ | |
| Sally & Mitch | 9th | — | 27 | — | — | 27 | 54 | — | 31 | |
| James & Natalie | 10th | 27 | — | 26 | 53 | — | — | 26 | | |
| Issa & Lily | 10th | 20 | — | 25 | 45 | — | — | 22 | | |
| Gavin & Megan | 12th | 8‡ | — | 20 | 28 | — | — | 18‡ | | |
| Charlie & Ruby | 13th | — | 8‡ | — | — | 17‡ | 25‡ | | | |
| Matt & Jessica | 14th | 10 | — | 6‡ | 16‡ | | | | | |

### Notes

* ↑ This couple finished in first place.
* ↑ This couple finished in second place.
* 1 2 3 4 This couple competed in the Finals.
* 1 2 3 4 This couple was in the bottom two or bottom four, but was not eliminated.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 This couple was eliminated.
* ↑ This couple withdrew from the competition.

## Weekly scores

Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Sharna Burgess, Todd McKenney, Mark Wilson.

### Week 1

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music |
| Emily & Lyu | 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) | Samba | "Can't Touch It" — Ricki-Lee Coulter |
| James & Natalie | 27 (6, 7, 7, 7) | Tango | "Love Me Again" — John Newman |
| Issa & Lily | 20 (3, 5, 6, 6) | Foxtrot | "Moondance" — Van Morrison |
| Gavin & Megan | 8 (1, 3, 1, 3) | Cha-cha-cha | "Move Your Feet" — Junior Senior |
| Mary & Aric | 18 (4, 5, 4, 5) | Tango | "Castle On The Hill" — Ed Sheeran |
| Paulini & Igor | 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) | Samba | "Pon de Replay" — Rihanna |
| Matt & Jessica | 10 (3, 3, 3, 1) | Foxtrot | "Ain't That A Kick In The Head" — Dean Martin |

### Week 2

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music |
| Pia & Declan | 23 (5, 6, 6, 6) | Cha-cha-cha | "Mercy" — Duffy |
| Sally & Mitch | 27 (6, 7, 7, 7) | Quickstep | "It Don't Mean a Thing" — Duke Ellington |
| Charlie & Ruby | 8 (1, 3, 2, 2) | Jive | "Blinding Lights" — The Weeknd |
| Christie & Craig | 30 (7, 8, 7, 8) | Viennese waltz | "You Are the Reason" — Calum Scott, feat. Leona Lewis |
| Laura & Danil | 19 (5, 5, 4, 5) | Jive | "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" — One Direction |
| Phil & Ash-Leigh | 29 (7, 7, 7, 8) | Viennese waltz | "Iris" — Goo Goo Dolls |
| Virginia & Ian | 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) | Paso doble | "Paint It Black" — Ciara |

### Week 3

Before the dance-off, Matt announced his decision to withdraw from the competition due to a knee injury sustained during training for the first show.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music | Result |
| Mary & Aric | 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) | Samba | "Freedom! '90" — George Michael | Safe |
| Paulini & Igor | 30 (7, 8, 7, 8) | Foxtrot | "Beauty and the Beast" — Angela Lansbury | Safe |
| Matt & Jessica | 6 (1, 3, 1, 1) | Paso doble | "Let's Stick Together" — Bryan Ferry | Withdrew |
| Gavin & Megan | 20 (4, 5, 5, 6) | Tango | "Song 2" — Blur | Bottom two |
| Emily & Lyu | 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) | Contemporary | "Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees | Safe |
| James & Natalie | 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) | Cha-cha-cha | "Head & Heart" — Joel Corry | Safe |
| Issa & Lily | 25 (4, 7, 7, 7) | Jive | "Greased Lightnin'" — John Travolta | Safe |

### Week 4

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music | Result |
| Christie & Craig | 34 (8, 9, 8, 9) | Cha-cha-cha | "How Will I Know" — Whitney Houston | Safe |
| Pia & Declan | 24 (6, 7, 5, 6) | Argentine tango | "Asi Se Baila El Tango" — from Take The Lead | Safe |
| Sally & Mitch | 27 (7, 7, 6, 7) | Jive | "Made You Look" — Meghan Trainor | Bottom two |
| Charlie & Ruby | 17 (3, 4, 4, 6) | Rumba | "Let It Go" — James Bay | Eliminated |
| Virginia & Ian | 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) | Quickstep | "Happy" — C2C, feat. Derek Martin | Safe |
| Laura & Danil | 28 (6, 8, 7, 7) | Foxtrot | "Fallin'" — Jessica Mauboy | Safe |
| Phil & Ash-Leigh | 35 (8, 9, 9, 9) | Paso doble | "Another One Bites the Dust" — Queen | Safe |

#### Dance-off performances

* Sally & Mitch: "At This Moment" — Billy Vera and the Beaters (Waltz)
* Charlie & Ruby: "X" — Jonas Brothers, feat. Karol G (Salsa)

#### Judges' votes to save

* Wilson: Sally & Mitch
* Burgess: Sally & Mitch
* Horwood: Sally & Mitch
* McKenney: Did not vote

### Week 5
#### Night 1

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music | Result |
| Paulini & Igor | 25 (6, 6, 6, 7) | Jive | "2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)" — Lizzo | Bottom four |
| James & Natalie | 26 (7, 7, 6, 6) | Viennese waltz | "Hold My Hand" — Lady Gaga | Eliminated by judges' votes |
| Issa & Lily | 22 (3, 5, 7, 7) | Paso doble | "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling Stones | Eliminated by judges' votes |
| Gavin & Megan | 18 (2, 5, 5, 6) | Rumba | "Just Give Me a Reason" — Pink, feat. Nate Ruess | Eliminated immediately |
| Emily & Lyu | 35 (9, 9, 9, 8) | Quickstep | "Walking on Sunshine" — Katrina and the Waves | Safe |
| Mary & Aric | 34 (8, 8, 9, 9) | Paso doble | "Bad Romance" — Lady Gaga | Safe |

#### Dance-off performances

* Paulini & Igor: "At This Moment" — Billy Vera and the Beaters (Waltz)
* Issa & Lily: "Black Betty" — Spiderbait (Charleston)
* James & Natalie: "At This Moment" — Billy Vera and the Beaters (Waltz)

#### Judges' votes to save

* Wilson: Paulini & Igor
* Burgess: Paulini & Igor
* Horwood: Paulini & Igor
* McKenney: Did not vote

#### Night 2

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music | Result |
| Laura & Danil | 19 (5, 5, 4, 5) | Cha-cha-cha | "Break Free" — Ariana Grande, feat. Zedd | Eliminated by judges' votes |
| Phil & Ash-Leigh | 39 (9, 10, 10, 10) | Foxtrot | "The Way You Look Tonight" — Frank Sinatra | Safe |
| Sally & Mitch | 31 (7, 8, 8, 8) | Tango | "Pompeii" — Bastille | Eliminated immediately |
| Virginia & Ian | 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) | Foxtrot | "Feeling Good" — Nina Simone | Safe |
| Pia & Declan | 33 (8, 8, 9, 8) | Paso doble | "I Ran (So Far Away)" — Flock of Seagulls | Eliminated by judges' votes |
| Christie & Craig | 37 (10, 10, 7, 10) | Samba | "New Rules" — Dua Lipa | Bottom four |

#### Dance-off performances

* Pia & Declan: "Black Betty" — Spiderbait (Charleston)
* Laura & Danil: "X" — Jonas Brothers, feat. Karol G (Salsa)
* Christie & Craig: "Black Betty" — Spiderbait (Charleston)

#### Judges' votes to save

* Wilson: Christie & Craig
* Burgess: Christie & Craig
* Horwood: Christie & Craig
* McKenney: Did not vote

### Week 6: Finale

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
| Couple | Scores | Dance | Music | Result |
| Emily & Lyu | 39 (9, 10, 10, 10) | Freestyle | "Spice Up Your Life" — Spice Girls | Runners-up |
| Paulini & Igor | 30 (7, 7, 8, 8) | Freestyle | "24K Magic" — Bruno Mars | Finalists |
| Mary & Aric | 31 (7, 9, 7, 8) | Freestyle | "Rise Up" — Andra Day | Finalists |
| Phil & Ash-Leigh | 39 (9, 10, 10, 10) | Freestyle | "Land of a Thousand Dances" — Wilson Pickett | Winners |
| Christie & Craig | 36 (8, 10, 8, 10) | Freestyle | "Stairway to Heaven" — Led Zeppelin | Finalists |
| Virginia & Ian | 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) | Freestyle | "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" — Fergie, Q-Tip & GoonRock | Finalists |

## Dance chart

The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week:
* Week 1: Cha-cha-cha, foxtrot, samba, or tango
* Week 2: One unlearned dance
* Week 3: One unlearned dance
* Week 4: One unlearned dance
* Week 5: One unlearned dance
* Week 6: Freestyle
Dancing with the Stars (season 20) - Dance chart :
| Couple | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Couple | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Couple | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Night 1 | Night 2 | 6 |
| Phil & Ash-Leigh | — | Viennese waltz | — | Paso doble | — | Foxtrot | Freestyle |
| Emily & Lyu | Samba | — | Contemp. | — | Quickstep | — | Freestyle |
| Christie & Craig | — | Viennese waltz | — | Cha-cha-cha | — | Samba | Freestyle |
| Mary & Aric | Tango | — | Samba | — | Paso doble | — | Freestyle |
| Paulini & Igor | Samba | — | Foxtrot | — | Jive | — | Freestyle |
| Virginia & Ian | — | Paso doble | — | Quickstep | — | Foxtrot | Freestyle |
| Laura & Danil | — | Jive | — | Foxtrot | — | Cha-cha-cha | |
| Pia & Declan | — | Cha-cha-cha | — | Argentine tango | — | Paso doble | |
| Sally & Mitch | — | Quickstep | — | Jive | — | Tango | |
| Issa & Lily | Foxtrot | — | Jive | — | Paso doble | | |
| James & Natalie | Tango | — | Cha-cha-cha | — | Viennese waltz | | |
| Gavin & Megan | Cha-cha-cha | — | Tango | — | Rumba | | |
| Charlie & Ruby | — | Jive | — | Rumba | | | |
| Matt & Jessica | Foxtrot | — | Paso doble | | | | |

## Ratings

| Episode | Episode | Original airdate | Original airdate | Viewers | Rank |
| 1 | "Week One" | 18 June 2023 | Sunday 7:00 pm | 647,000 | 3 |
| 2 | "Week Two" | 25 June 2023 | Sunday 7:00 pm | 645,000 | 3 |
| 3 | "Week Three" | 2 July 2023 | Sunday 7:00 pm | 647,000 | 5 |
| 4 | "Week Four" | 9 July 2023 | Sunday 7:00 pm | 582,000 | 5 |
| 5 | "Week Five (a)" | 16 July 2023 | Sunday 7:00 pm | 614,000 | 4 |
| 6 | "Week Five (b)" | 17 July 2023 | Monday 7:30 pm | 552,000 | 8 |
| 7 | "Week Six Finale" | 23 July 2023 | Sunday 7:00 pm | 702,000 | 3 |