James R | On 25, Apr 2019

Channel 4 is taking a Flirty Dancing for another spin, with the reality dating series recommissioned for a second season.

Second Star’s feel-good hit, hosted by Ashley Banjo, 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?

“By the time one of them has improvised a kiss on their partner’s hand halfway through a routine, the smiles on their faces (part nerves, part excitement) are genuinely infectious,” we wrote in our review of Season 1. “Chuck in that frankly inspired pun as the programme’s title and you’ve got yourself a winner.”

Banjo says: “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, attracted an average 888,000 viewers with a 6.0% share, up on the 10pm slot average. The series also ranked second in the timeslot amongst Adults 16-34 and first amongst Women 16-34.

Season 2 will are at an earlier time slot of 8pm, and the six-part series will once again be hosted by choreographer-come-cupid, Ashley Banjo and also see a standalone one-hour celebrity Stand Up To Cancer special.

Sarah Lazenby, Head of Features and Formats at Channel 4, adds: “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.”

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