Australian television star Dannii Minogue is set for a dramatic return to British screens this week, more than 14 years after she quit the UK following a tumultuous period as a judge on The X Factor. The 54-year-old has landed a role in Channel 5's crime drama The Imposter, marking a significant and unexpected comeback.
A Painful Departure and a Healing Return
Minogue's exit from the UK in 2011 was shrouded in personal turmoil. She has spoken openly about suffering from anxiety, depression, and stress during her time on the ITV talent show between 2007 and 2010. A significant part of her distress stemmed from intense media speculation and confirmed rumours of a romance with music mogul and fellow judge Simon Cowell.
In an unauthorised biography of Cowell, the producer himself called it "genuine love," stating he was "like a schoolboy" with a crush on the "foxy" star. However, the fallout from the relationship and the relentless spotlight left Minogue feeling, in her own words, 'broken'.
Compounding the issue was a very public feud with fellow judge Sharon Osbourne, whose "acidic tongue" Minogue says she was a victim of. Osbourne made disparaging comments about Minogue in her autobiography and later on television, once comparing her to "an insect, a mosquito that wouldn't go away." Minogue responded in her own book, detailing the insults she endured both on and off screen.
Stepping Back into Drama on Channel 5
Now, over a decade later, Dannii Minogue is making a surprising return. This week, she will appear on Channel 5 playing a character named Amanda in The Imposter. She stars alongside established UK actors like Kym Marsh and former Neighbours star Jackie Woodburne.
Television insiders have expressed surprise at the move, given the deep scars left by her previous experience in British showbusiness. Of her new role, Minogue said, "Stepping back into drama is kind of wild... I spent so much time watching it on television, and then stepping back into the most amazing cast and crew. I know that I'm in good hands I just need to relax and channel."
She also hinted at more UK work, adding, "I think I'll be back in the UK very soon. It's the place that I keep going back to all the time but it's just been such a long time since I've been on the TV screens like this."
A Big Week for the Minogue Sisters
The comeback coincides with a notable week for the Minogue family. Dannii's older sister, pop icon Kylie Minogue, 56, is currently in a fierce battle for the UK Christmas number one spot with her festive hit 'XMAS'. She is reportedly leading the betting at William Hill, challenging the perennial favourite 'Last Christmas' by Wham!.
Dannii, who has a 14-year-old son named Ethan with former Leeds rugby player Kris Smith, appears to have put the difficulties of her past firmly behind her. Her return to UK television in a primetime drama signals not just a professional revival, but a personal reconciliation with the industry that once caused her so much pain.
