If I hear one more, shrill “Oh My God” I will honestly chuck my Manolo Blahnik shoe (if I had one, that is) at the television screen.

Not to mention “I just want it so bad”, “this is where I want to be” and “this is where I belong”.

Yes, Australia’s Next Top Model is back in all its glory for its 10th series on Fox 8 on September 20 – making it the longest-running local show on Foxtel. Which means, as judge Alex Perry often says, “you’d better make it good”.

But, frankly, despite its beautiful production values and slick editing, it takes a good 10 minutes to get past the froth and shrillness before it settles into what we secretly love about ANTM – watching the dreams of beautiful (albeit overwhelmingly white) young women nurtured and then either realised or smashed.

Going by the first episode, this series has some depth and genuine heart once it settles in – particularly with the addition of legendary Australian model and actor Megan Gale as a full-time judge.

The series opens with a glimpse into the process of choosing the 13 girls and a suitably Hollywood reveal of the judges and host Jennifer Hawkins. By then I feared that some of the girls, whose tears are already flowing, will literally be sick with excitement.

They are quickly sent out to makeup to prepare for their first challenge – walking the catwalk in front of 400 VIP guests, wearing Alex Perry’s latest collection.

He gives them a really serious pep talk about “protecting his brand”, about his reputation being on the line, about how he normally spends weeks choosing his models and what a risk this is for him.

Really, Alex? Risk? Your clothes will find a television audience a catwalk show will never find – at a time when they are in the shops.

Watch the emotions run high:

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Then it’s down to business with the arrival backstage of model mentors Cheyenne Tozzi (“Mum’s here,” she tells them) and twins Jordan and Zac Stenmark.

This is where the show starts to settle and blossom and we start to get to know some of the girls and their backstories.

Jordan, 20, feels as though she’s “not good enough”. Photo: Fox 8

We meet Jordan, for example, who’s failed to get modelling gigs in the past because she’s “not good enough” and her legs are “thick and heavy”.

Naturally Alex is never far from the action, telling one girl: “Control your face, you look like you’re going to wet yourself.” She replies she looks like that because, “You’re so scary”. Quite right.

The show goes surprisingly well, given that few of these girls have ever walked a catwalk before – though there are many “deer in the headlights” moments.

Next up, of course, is the photo shoot – working with Montana Cox, the winner of season seven of ANTM. She has since gone on to model for Chanel, Dior and Valentino and is one of the big winners of this franchise.

Judging rolls around and Megan Gale gives heart to what has become a perfect bitchfest starring Alex Perry who, for example, tells one shocked girl: “It’s really easy for you to look like a bitch.”

Watch some of Alex Perry’s scathing one-liners:

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When Jordan comes up for judging and tells her tale of rejection, Megan Gale is moved to tears, recalling not being able to work for years after being told she wasn’t good enough. Candy floss aside, this was a good moment.

Naturally, I won’t say who’s going home but she is incredibly gracious in defeat, saying: “I don’t think you can dwell on the past.”

Nor is ANTM. The 10th series is definitely a step up from those that have gone before.