'Dancing with the Stars' season 21 cast: Who's leaving and returning?
It's only a few weeks away before season 21 of "Dancing with the Stars" airs, and so it's not a surprise that cast news are already going around, along with the list or pro-dancers who will be returning this season.
Just last Wednesday, ABD reported that the upcoming season's lineup of pro-dancers had already been revealed on "Good Morning America." The list includes defending champion Val Chmerkovskiy, Artem Chigvintsev, Allison Holker, Sharna Burgess, Peta Murgatroyd, and Witney Carson. Past mirror ball champions Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Karina Smirnoff will also join them. Smirnoff took the last season off, but now she's back and ready to fight for the top spot.
Although initially good news for viewers that fan-favorites Hough and Ballas are returning, it was quickly replaced by dismay when news that veteran judge Len Goodman wasn't returning. Showrunner Rob Wade explains to Entertainment Weekly the reason for this decision, "Len will not be returning as a judge this season on Dancing with the Stars due to his schedule as a judge on 'Strictly Come Dancing in the U.K.' and the birth of his new grandson." However, all is not lost as Goodman may not be completely disappearing this season." Wade continues to share, "He still might be involved in the season at some capacity, but we will have to wait and see. We are planning on having great guest judges for some shows to join Bruno [Tonioli], Carrie Ann [Inaba], and Julianne [Hough], and I'm sure we will see Len in the ballroom again soon."
Goodman already spoke about his plans of leaving the show last December; however, it was only recently that it was confirmed. During that time, he was quoted saying, "I've got my wife, I've got my son, my mother is still alive and she's in hospital — I've had virtually no time to go and visit her. Dancing with the Stars, next year is their 10th year … so I think that's a nice place to stop."
The list of celebrities joining this season will be announced next week, along with their respective partners from the list of pro-dancers. It will be followed by the premiere of the new season on Sept. 14, 8|7c on ABC.
