ABC has renewed Dancing with the Stars for season 30, ABC confirms.
Tyra Banks who joined the veteran celebrity dance competition for season 29 after longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews were unceremoniously dumped is returning. Additionally, Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli will return as judges. And good news! Veteran judge, Len Goodman is returning as well. The senior citizen sat out the season last fall, due to Covid travel restrictions. However, ABC did not specify whether Len would participate remotely or in person. But by now, he’s probably got the COVID jab, and is safe to travel to the United States from England where he lives.
DWTS went on with the show last fall, in an empty ballroom and with socially distanced judges. The dancers had to quarantine and test constantly throughout the competition, but nobody dropped out due to COVID exposure. Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe and pro Artem Chigvintsev won the Mirrorball trophy.
The season did not end without controversy. Many longtime DWTS fans were unhappy that ABC suddenly fired fan favorite hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews. What’s more, Tyra made several mistakes during the season, including calling the wrong couple unsafe, plus she tended to stumble and bumble over her words. Executive producer Andrew Llinares has continued to support his new hire, however.
Later on this year, ABC will announced a fall debut date for the landmark 30th season of Dancing with the Stars.
