No Dancing with the Stars as RTÉ cancels fifth series due to Covid-19

RTÉ says the move was the right one and that it hoped to bring the show back next year

Marty Morrissey with Ksenia Zsikhotska dancing the quickstep in Dancing with the Stars in 2018. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Marty Morrissey with Ksenia Zsikhotska dancing the quickstep in Dancing with the Stars in 2018. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

Popular television programme Dancing with the Stars will not go ahead in 2021 due to ongoing restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, RTÉ announced on Wednesday.

The national broadcaster said it hopes to bring back the series in 2022.

RTÉ’s head of entertainment John McHugh said: “We are extremely disappointed not to be in a position to produce series five of Dancing with the Stars in 2021.

“After much discussion, we feel the risks are too high with a production of this scale to proceed with the series in 2021 and we hope to revisit the show in 2022.

READ MORE

“We understand that the many fans of the series will be disappointed with this decision. However, given the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid-19 and our duty of care, we believe this decision is the right one.

“We will continue to work with Larry Bass and Shinawil on other projects and will be conducting ongoing discussions with them and the BBC to try and bring back Dancing with the Stars in 2022.”

RTÉ said it would announce a full autumn schedule of programming and content across its television, radio and online services in the coming weeks.

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson is an Irish Times reporter