Jo Stanley - Biography
Jo Stanley - Breakfast radio host and television personality

Radio personality Jo Stanley can’t quite decide if she’s terrified or excited by the prospect of singing in front of Australia.

While the co-host of Fox FM’s The Matt and Jo breakfast radio show in Melbourne is used to filtering tunes through to her listening audience, actually being the entertainment is a whole new ball game for this vibrant radio announcer. But taking to the It Takes Two stage is a life-long dream come true for this foxy lady. “When I was little I desperately wanted to be on Young Talent Time,” she admits. “ITT is only one letter removed from YTT!”

A former choir singer during her school days, Jo is confident she can still hold a tune but laments her “mediocrity is exactly what I expected”. “But I’ve never liked the sound of my own voice,” she admits, “I think it’s too shrill and posh sounding.”

Jo has become a well-known face on Australian television as a regular panelist on The Panel, Sunday Brunch and Clover. She also hosted the small business program Bread and Yasmin’s Getting Married. She continues to make guest appearances on a number of shows, including Thank God You’re Here, Family Feud, Australia’s Brainiest Quiz Show and Good As Gold.

Brought up in Yallambie, Victoria along with her two sisters, Jo always wanted to be an actor and overcame shyness by becoming the class joker to make friends at a new school. Her exhibitionism took her into studying acting, where she kept people laughing. Jo began writing and performing stand-up and sketch comedy in 1992 – a talent that has taken her all around the country and overseas.

It was while doing stand-up in a Collingwood pub that she was discovered by Fox FM. She started out in the Sunday night shift before building her success to become the popular personality she is today.

But for someone who is used to standing before a discerning crowd, Jo is feeling vaguely nauseous at sharing her previously private practice sessions. “Already I have been challenged by how vulnerable singing in public makes you feel. The best I can hope is that the audience sees me grow and likes what they see.”

Jo is supporting the Lighthouse Foundation which provides long term accommodation and intensive support for young people who may otherwise be homeless. “I believe all young people deserve a loving and safe environment in which to grow up, and it saddens me greatly that many young people don’t have that available to them.”

Anthony Callea - Biography
Australia’s record-breaking pop star.

With Australia’s fastest-selling single of all time under his belt, Anthony Callea has certainly proven he’s more than an idol. Anthony’s version of Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer settled at the top of the charts for five amazing weeks in 2004 and worked its way into the record books as not only the fastest-selling single, but the highest-selling single in ARIA history.

He topped the accomplish off with a number one self-titled album and his current album A New Chapter debuted in the top 10 and has so far produced two top 20 singles.

Since bursting onto the music scene as the runner-up in Australian Idol, Anthony has won legions of fans for his passionate singing and infectious personality.

But for this energetic singer, music has been in his blood since he started singing lessons at the age of just five. He scored his first job as a vocalist for various commercials soon after and continued singing throughout his schooling. He always aimed high and came first in Victoria for Music Solo Performance – with a perfect score– in his VCE exam (the equivalent of NSW’s HSC exams).

Then in 2004, Anthony became a household name when he joined tens of thousands of young Australians around the nation for the second series of Australian Idol. But his joy of reaching the final 30 turned to disappointment when he was voted out.

It was no surprise when this obvious talent was soon returned to the competition as a wild card entrant and he proved his inclusion worthy by reaching the final two, coming in second only to winner Casey Donovan.

Since then, Anthony has been involved in the Tsunami Relief Telethon, invited to perform at the Red Cross Ball in the presence of Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark and was also asked to perform for Luciano Pavarotti when he was in Australia.

At only 24, Anthony is now one of Australia’s most respected, in-demand and awarded singer/songwriters.

He has plans to tour with his band alter this year, but before that he will warm up his vocal cords for his first involvement with his partner Jo Stanley on It Takes Two.

I guess it will come as no suprise to hear that I'm cheering for Jo and Anthony ;)

Me too and Kate as I really like her.