Shelley Craft on being 2017’s Ambassador for Disney On Ice: Frozen and Work As An Ambitious TV Host
By Jana Angeles
If you were a 90’s kid and remember switching on the telly every Saturday morning, you may remember bubbly and charismatic TV host, Shelley Craft. Being the face of Saturday Disney on the Seven Network from 1996 to 2002, Craft became an important face for the children’s program, presenting some of the best cartoons and helping brighten the days of little ones around Australia. As the host of the program, she was able to learn skills, further developing her professional life in the TV industry.
“Working as a host on Saturday Disney was the best training ground anyone could hope for,” she said. “We were encouraged to write, produce and edit our own content. We were guided by the best in the business and we worked for a global brand that is without question the best entertainment for children.”
Always striking her pearly whites on television, Craft was a natural in her job. Because she had passion and enthusiasm for the content showcased on Saturday Disney, it only made sense for her to become aware of how important it was to be her true self in front of children audiences. This job opened her to many more work opportunities, hosting The Great Outdoors and being successfully selected as this year’s ambassador for Disney On Ice: Frozen.
“It has shaped my career in so many ways,” she explained. “Child audiences are unforgiving and only want the truth so it forced all of us to drop the act and just be comfortable with who we were, and deliver in a very open and honest way. I still do that everyday now. There’s no point acting when you are a host – there has to be honesty.”
Describing her selection as ambassador for Disney On Ice as a “thrill and true honour”, Craft has two daughters of her own. Being a parent herself, she understood how crazy children go when they see their favourite characters, skating and singing on an ice rink. With Disney On Ice: Frozen being showcased around Winter time this year, she advises kids to “sing along, go on the journey and enjoy it” adding a clever pun to just “Let It Go”and let your inner Disney out.”
Even then, Disney On Ice has always been an outing she tries to do every year with her family. Craft described that her girls were “mad for Frozen” adding the fact that “they love to perform so for them to see this magical story come to life will be so special.”
Moving along from all things Disney, Craft has hosted shows like The Block series and Big Brother Australia. She has also previously worked on Domestic Blitz and also replaced Toni Pearon as host of Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show. Rest assured, she’s a busy woman but her passion as a TV host still remains.
“I love my job,” she continues. “I love the work and I believe if you are willing to work hard, give 100% to your show and the audience, you will have a great time and a long career. It’s not about celebrity, it’s about the industry.”
With many future projects ahead of her, Craft still manages to keep things in balance with her family. She is a strong believer of investing time in herself, family and work equally. Obviously priorities come into play but in the end, it just goes to show how selfless and supportive Craft is for her family.
“I juggle like all working families juggle,” she said. “I hope every family deals with it the best they can. There’s always compromise and co-ordination but we get there in the end. I believe in balance. This may not happen every day but if you can balance out family time, work time, personal time over a year period, that works for us.”
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2017 National Tour Dates
Perth – Perth Arena 2 – 5 June (Fri – Mon)
Adelaide – Adelaide Entertainment Centre 9 – 12 June (Fri – Mon)
Wollongong – WIN Entertainment Centre 15 – 18 June (Thurs – Sun)
Newcastle – Newcastle Entertainment Centre 22 – 25 June (Thurs – Sun)
Brisbane – Brisbane Entertainment Centre 29 Jun – 2 Jul (Thurs – Sun)
Melbourne – Hisense Arena, Melbourne 5 – 9 July (Wed – Sun)
Sydney – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park 12- 17 July (Wed – Mon)
For all your ticketing needs please visit the tour’s authorised ticket seller in your city.
For all cities (excluding Wollongong) purchase tickets only through Ticketek: www.ticketek.com.au/disneyonice.
For Wollongong tickets please visit Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.com.au/disneyonice. Tickets priced for families.
Additional discounts apply on select performances. For more information visit www.disneyonice.com.au.