W Network, Canada’s #1 specialty channel for women, presents The Ultimate W Expert Challenge, a set of three specials set to air Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m., Sunday, June 28 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 7 p.m. Hosted by Karen Bertelsen, and based on W Network’s cross Canada online expert search last fall, seven finalists will compete head to head in a variety of challenges and screen tests to see if they have what it takes to become the next W Network expert.

With each finalist’s own distinctive expertise in diverse backgrounds ranging from food, design, style, finance, health and personal development put to the test, they must prove that they have the knowledge and TV talent to win the ultimate prize. Judged by a different panel of veteran W experts each week, including Glenn Dixon and Glen Peloso from Take This House and Sell It!, Bruce Turner from Style By Jury and Candice Olsen from Divine Design, the winner of The Ultimate W Expert Challenge will receive a development deal with W Network for a chance to work with the network to become the next W expert.

Each half-hour episode introduces the contestants to a new challenge and screen test that will test their expertise as well as their character. The finalists, including a hair-stylist, a psychologist, a financial advisor, two designers and two chefs, compete in three extreme challenges that will not only take them out of their element, but also demonstrate their ability to adapt and flourish under pressure. The challenges take the contestants from hosting an unusual dinner party in celebration of an amicable divorce to establishing their own fan club in the middle of a shopping mall.

Finalists include:

Daniela Garritano, Home and Garden expert
Dr. Cheryl Fraser, Personal Development expert
Eric Arrouzé, Food and Nutrition expert
Jackson West, Home and Garden expert
Kristine Laing, Food and Nutrition expert
Marc Galati, Beauty and Style expert
Preet Banerjee, Money and Shopping expert

In the first episode, premiering Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m., the hopefuls are asked to give a five minute boardroom presentation in front of a surprise audience, and are forced to think on their feet when they discover who is awaiting them behind the boardroom door. Guest judge’s Hina Khan and Dylan Marcel from Save Us From Our House! weigh in on who they believe has the personality and on-screen skills to become the next W Network expert.

Viewers can go to www.wnetwork.com to become their own expert on each of the finalists. The website will feature the original audition videos submitted by each finalist last fall, their online challenge videos, bios of each finalist as well as a few other surprises.