Behind the scenes at Australia's Got Talent: what REALLY happens at a live taping Australia's Got Talent judges Dawn French, Timomatic, host Julia Morris, Geri Halliwell and Kyle Sandilands on set of the first live show of the reality series at Fox Studios. Channel Nine is hoping its celebrity judges will help drive ratings. After spending nearly an hour lined up in various locations outside the Australia's Got Talent stage, we're finally being herded towards our seats. This is clearly a family show; unlike other Australian reality television audiences this one is full of youngsters, with big dreams and stars in their eyes. I'm at Fox Studios where filming takes place for Channel Nine's latest reality steal, otherwise known as AGT. The show was picked up by the Nine Network after Channel Seven dropped it last year, largely due to lacklustre ratings thanks to Nine's other reality juggernaut, The Voice, which rated nearly double the viewers at more than two million on most weeks. With a fresh look and new judging panel, consisting of British comedian Dawn French, radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and ex-AGT contestant Timomatic, Nine placed their bets for a sure-fire ratings winner. But it seems audiences are yet to be convinced by this year's crop of talented contestants. Last week's viewers saw a drop from 1.172m to 982,000, placing the talent show in sixth place for the night, well behind Seven's The X Factor at 1.474m, also the top program of the night. The Other Superman (Paul Nunnari) has been in a wheelchair since he was 11, but it doesn't stop him performing incredible aerial acts in his chair. He impresses the judges on Australia's Got Talent on Sunday night. As we are directed to our seats, host Julia Morris strolls past. She looks stunning in a floor length black gown with bling embellishments on the shoulders and curlers in her hair. She waves and says hi to a group of stunned onlookers, unprepared for this spontaneous introduction. The studio is tiny in comparison to how it looks on screen and we spend the first hour clapping while Morris films promos for every capital city. It's a long, long process. Photography is strictly prohibited, we're told. And don't bother approaching the judges for a picture, it's strictly out of bounds. Brady family from Cairns wow the judges on Australia's Got Talent. Courtesy: Australia's Got Talent, Channel Nine The famous four are introduced and sat down. Immediately, Geri can be heard arguing with one of the shows producers. About what? It's not clear. Soon enough, Sandilands pipes in and asks her what all the audience want to know: "what's going on?" "We're having a discussion," she defends, and the producer runs off. To her credit she looks radiant. She's tiny in stature and size, incredibly slim, with deep blue eyes and glowing skin. She looks healthy. Happy. Geri turns around and glances towards my side of the audience. She's looking for someone. "Mummy!" a young girl yells out. "There's my blueberry muffin," as she edges closer towards me, a smile beaming from her face. I'm sitting just seats away from Bluebell, Halliwell's six-year-old daughter. In fact, I'm sitting next to her entire team. PA and nanny I assume, plus a few others. In front of me, Julia Morris" son and husband, to their right, a friend of Dawn French. Next to him? Sandilands" 22-year-old girlfriend, Imogen, accompanied by friends. They disappear with Sandilands during breaks and engage in chat with Halliwell's team, including Bluebell. Rollerskating couple Chantelle and Benji come horribly unstuck during their audition for Australia's Got Talent. As I'm told to look at the stage and clap for what seems to be the gazillionth promo of the night, I'm realising what's going on off the stage is so much better than what's going on the stage. I can't look away. Halliwell is clearly the voice of the judging panel; she's motherly and affectionate towards the other judges, at times brushing Sandilands" suit jacket and going in for a hug whenever she can. During breaks she checks in on Bluebell, whose ginger hair sparkles in the spotlight. Geri looks for reassurance from her team that her comments towards a certain contestant weren't too harsh and makes justifications regarding her decision to speak in such a forward manner. Frankly, they weren't harsh enough. Bluebell, now wrapped in a blanket, is particularly excited to see Tommy Franklin, aka Salty Rain. The 30-year-old freestyle dancer is clearly her favourite, with Halliwell remarking she uses her long hair to emulate his scraggly beard. At times Dawn gives a sneaky eyeroll or a sideways glance to her friend in the audience, it's clear she disagrees but she stays diplomatic throughout the proceedings. She's hilarious, but poised. Her friend smiles and quietly giggles to himself. Sandilands is the most entertaining of them all, even twerking for the audience a la Miley Cyrus during his introduction. He's surprisingly good at it. Five hours later filming wraps and judges, along with family and friends, are whisked away faster than Julia Morris can say "see you next week." Tonight, expect a show full of nail biting performances ... and then there's the ones you wish you could unsee. Does Australia have talent? The jury is still out on that one, but in the meantime, scan the live audience for familiar faces, because you never know who or what surprises you'll spot from afar. Australia's Got Talent airs tonight from 6.30pm on Channel 9.