Flirty Dancing spins back on to Channel 4

23 April 2019

Second Star’s widely acclaimed feel-good hit Flirty Dancing has been recommissioned by Channel 4.

Returning to the channel at the earlier time slot of 8pm, the 6 x 60 series will once again be hosted by choreographer-come-cupid, Ashley Banjo and also see a standalone 1 x 60 celebrity Stand Up To Cancer special.

The series, which The Telegraph described as “an irresistible, grin-inducing illustration of the joys of dance”, sees two disillusioned daters taught two halves of the same bespoke dance. Across a week they train separately, working with Ashley and his team to get to grips with their routine. The pair then meet for the first time in a cinematic setting where they don’t speak, just dance, deciding afterwards based on the dance alone whether they want to go on a second date.

Shot throughout the UK, in a range of glorious, real world locations and with two sets of singletons paired up per show, will it be love at first dance?

Ashley Banjo said, "I loved working with our singles last year, creating something special for each of them and watching the sparks fly. For me the show provides an incredibly unique experience for people to meet through dance, and it is so rewarding (as well as nerve-racking!) to watch it all play out. I can’t wait to help create some romance for all our new hopeful daters.”

The first series, which aired in January this year, left viewers and critics alike in love with the fresh new spin on the dating and dancing genres. Attracting an average 888,000 viewers with a 6.0% share, this is up on the 10pm slot average. The series also ranked second in the timeslot amongst Adults 16-34 and first amongst Women 16-34.

Sarah Lazenby, Head of Features and Formats at Channel 4 said, “We’re delighted to be bringing the joy of Flirty Dancing back to Channel 4, at an earlier time slot so that all the family can enjoy the timeless romance it evokes. Curated, once again, by the warm hearted giant Ashley Banjo, we hope this series will create some more rom com magic for the small screen.”

Second Star’s Chief Creative Officer Deborah Sargeant added, “We are incredibly proud of this format – and of the production team who work so passionately to produce it – so we were thrilled that the first series was so warmly received. We can’t wait to get more couples dancing in the street this summer. “

Flirty Dancing is a Second Star production, part of Objective Media Group, and was commissioned by Sarah Lazenby, Head of Features and Formats and Sarah Dillistone, Commissioning Editor for Features and Formats at Channel 4. The Executive Producer for Second Star is Ami Jackson alongside Second Star CCO Deborah Sargeant, and the Series Producer is Genna Gibson.

 

To apply please go to: channel4.com/takepart

 

About Second Star:

Second Star specialises in storytelling through factual entertainment, formats and reality. It launched in 2016 and its formats include Flirty Dancing, fronted by Ashley Banjo for Channel 4. The Flirty Dancing format is being piloted in the US for Fox, and IDTV is currently in production for a Dutch version of the format for SBS6. Previous hit shows include Britain Today, Tonight (a co-production with Brown Bred and 2LE for Channel 4), Stupid Man, Smart Phone (a co-production with Kalel Productions for BBC Worldwide and BBC Three), Life Hacks Hoax (BBC Three) and It Was Alright in the 70s (Channel 4). It is headed up by chief creative officer Deborah Sargeant, who joined from Sky where she was commissioning editor, non-scripted. Prior to that Deborah was executive producer at Tiger Aspect and EndemolUK. Second Star is part of Objective Media Group