Eight years after winning the Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing with the Stars, Alfonso Ribeiro is returning to the series as a co-host.
Ribeiro will join host and executive producer Tyra Banks for season 31 of the competition series as it moves from ABC to Disney+.
“Dancing with the Stars has been such an important part of my life for so many years, and I am ecstatic to officially re-join this tight-knit family as co-host,” Ribeiro said in a statement Thursday. “Tyra and I have a longstanding friendship that I hope will resonate with all of the fans at home as we kick off this new season on Disney+.”
Related Story: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Moving Off ABC to Streaming After Ratings Dip
Added Banks, “Having such a fun-loving, longtime friend as co-host warms my heart. Plus, he’s won the competition before, so he knows exactly what the stars are going through. Bantering back and forth with him live is going to be so much fun!”
Ribeiro began his career as a child actor, including on Broadway playing the lead role in the Tony-winning musical “The Tap Dance Kid.” He signed a recording contract with Island Records, released several pop singles and landed a role in Michael Jackson’s 1984 Pepsi commercial. As a teenager, Ribeiro was cast on the sitcom Silver Spoons. After earning a theater arts education from California State University, Los Angeles, he joined The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Carlton Banks.
The multi-hyphenate returned to his dancing roots in 2014 when he competed on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. After finishing in first place, he hosted the nationwide Dancing with the Stars tour.
In the fall, Ribeiro and Banks will be joined by returning judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
As previously reported, ABC announced in April that DWTS would be transitioning off of broadcast TV after more than 15 years and 30 seasons. The move came amid falling ratings and complaints from longtime viewers after producers replaced hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.
When DWTS returns in the fall, it will be the first live series on Disney+ The season 31 premiere date will be announced later this year.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
