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RTÉ yet to recommission Dancing With The Stars for second series

RTÉ are yet to recommission Dancing With The Stars for a second series.

Although the show has gone down a hit with viewers, production company Shinawil have admitted that it’s “an RTÉ call” on whether the show returns again next year.

“It’s solely an RTÉ call – we would love to do another show,” executive producer Larry Bass told the Irish Independent.

“It was a big decision to take off a show like ‘The Voice’, which had a place in the hearts of the nation, and replace it with this.”

Up in the air: RTÉ are yet to recommission DWTS for a second series | RTE

“Our task was to make the first five minutes of the first show the very best that we could in order to catch the attention of the audience.

“We were on a hiding to nothing if we didn’t get the first show right, but we did it and we haven’t looked back,” Larry added.

The show’s success has attracted the attention of huge advertisers, which spells good news for RTÉ after Director General Dee Forbes revealed significant job and budget cuts this week.

“A 30-second ad for a show with viewership figures like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ could cost close to €20,000. When you think that there are 16 minutes of ads – that’s bringing you half-a-million each week, “an industry expert revealed.

Success: Producer Larry Bass is more than pleased with how the show went down with viewers this year | VIPIRELAND.COM

Meanwhile, if the show returns next year – contestants could be set to embark on a nationwide tour, similar to the Strictly Come Dancing tour.

“I think a tour would be a phenomenal success,” said Larry Bass. “I absolutely believe that there is enough desire out there for one.

“If we had 2,500 seats out in Ardmore, we would have filled them, such has been the demand for tickets. If the show is coming back, and we wait to hear from RTÉ on that front, then we can look at it.”

The producer is extremely happy with how the celebrities captured the hearts of the viewers this year, and admitted that this will make casting for next year’s show easy.

“If we were doing the show again, then I have no doubt that some people we asked, and who declined, would jump at the chance to do it. You cannot buy the affection from the people of Ireland that this show has brought to the contestants. Look at Des Cahill, working with RTÉ for years, and Teresa Mannion and they now have a special place in people’s hearts.

Favourites: Viewers fell in love with the likes of Des Cahill – who was affectionately nicknamed Dancing Desy | RTE

“We’ve found a brilliant presenting duo in Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne. After years of advocating that we should have an Irish version of ‘Dancing with the Stars’, I’m pleasantly thankful for how it has worked out and how people have received it,” he said.

Larry is also confident that this year’s contestants, such as Hometown star Dayl Cronin, will be inundated with new career opportunities after appearing on the show.

“Dayl was incredible and this is just the start of things for him.

“Last weekend he was very upset when he lost, but if he applies himself to anything the same way that he applied himself to this, he can do absolutely anything that he wants to. It’s just the beginning of things for him and everybody knows who he is now,” he added.

Catch the final of Dancing With The Stars tonight at 6.30pm on RTÉ One.

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