'DWTS' announces OG host Tom Bergeron's return 5 years after shock exit

Tom Bergeron is returning to Dancing with the Stars five years after his contentious exit from the ballroom.

The longtime host, who led the ABC competition for 15 years and 28 seasons, will return as a guest judge for the show’s upcoming 20th anniversary episode on November 11, as announced Wednesday morning following the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night.“

Speaking on Good Morning America, Bergeron said, “It feels really good. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Emmy-winning host’s return comes as a surprise, given his abrupt and controversial exit in 2020. After years of being the heart of DWTS, he was dismissed shortly after publicly criticising the show’s decision to cast former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in Season 28.

He later revealed that despite signing a new multi-season contract, producers cut ties with him after he objected to bringing political figures into the mix.

Following his exit, Bergeron said in a statement that producers had “thrown a curveball” after promising to avoid political casting, adding, “We will have to agree to disagree.”

After hosting that final season — during which Spicer was voted out after eight weeks — Bergeron left the show alongside co-host Erin Andrews.

This year’s hosts for season 34 are Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough.