Every day brings us closer to Dancing with the Stars Season 35. Hosts (and Mirrorball Champions in their own right) Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced the reality competition show’s renewal at Hulu’s Get Real event in April. They also revealed the new spinoff series, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, hosted by Mirrorball Champion Robert Irwin. The new series will premiere on Monday, July 13, at 8/7c on ABC. Assumedly, that season will run up to when Dancing with the Stars returns. That way, the 35th season can introduce the new pro, whoever they may be.
At that same event, Ribeiro and Hough announced the first two celebrities who will compete on Dancing with the Stars this season. After breaking out on Traitors US, Maura Higgins will take a spin in the ballroom. As someone who has been a fan of Higgins’s presence in reality TV since she made an impression in Love Island UK, I couldn’t be more thrilled by this news. She will be joined by further Traitors US contestant and Summer House star Ciara Miller. I’ve also become obsessed with Miller and Tefi Pessoa while they host Love Island Aftersun, so this is exciting.
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In May, the Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson joined the cast. Derek Hough, who is a six-time Mirrorball Champion and a Dancing with the Stars judge, told Good Morning America that he felt a bit responsible for Olson’s casting. Hough spoke about being a Savannah Bananas fan and wanting to work with the team. He also promoted Olson’s social media presence and dance moves. Both of which could greatly benefit Olson’s time on Dancing with the Stars.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June, Jimmy Kimmel announced that Guillermo Rodriguez would also join Dancing with the Stars Season 35. Kimmel introduced Rodriguez as “someone you know, someone you love. He’s someone we know quite well.” When he asked Rodriguez if he knew who it was, he pretended that he was just as excited as everyone else to find out. Next thing you know: Rodriguez is dancing out to the news, happy to compete this season. I wonder if he will be this year’s version of the People’s Prince, like Andy Richter last season.
As usual, the entire Dancing with the Stars Season 35 cast won’t be revealed until Wednesday, September 2. The celebrities and their professional partners are always announced on Good Morning America. Until then, I will keep updating this post with any more updates.
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