HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews will not return as host and co-host of “Dancing with the Stars,'' as producers “embark on a new creative direction,'' ABC and BBC Studios, the series' producer, confirmed today.
“Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me,'' Bergeron tweeted Monday afternoon. “It's been an incredible 15 year run and the most unexpected gift of my career.
“I'm grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made. That said, now what am I supposed to do with all of these glitter masks?''
Bergeron hosted the series throughout its run, which began in 2005. He received nine consecutive Emmy nominations as outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition program beginning in 2008, the category's first year, winning in 2012.
“I love you. You are the best,'' actress Lea Thompson, a contestant in the fall 2014 season. “There is no @DancingABC without you. They might as well (cancel) it. xoxoxoxoxo''
Andrews was a co-host since 2014.
“Tom Bergeron will forever be part of the `Dancing with the Stars' family,'' ABC and BBC Studios said in a joint statement. “As we embark on a new creative direction, he departs the show with our sincerest thanks and gratitude for his trademark wit and charm that helped make this show a success.
“Erin will also not be returning, and we appreciate all that she brought to the ballroom. Fans have been rooting for her since she originally competed as a contestant back in 2010, and her signature sense of humor has become a hallmark of the show.''
Photo: Getty Images