Tom Bergeron ABC Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text Tom Bergeron is surprisingly headed back to the ballroom. The former original host will make his Dancing With the Stars show return on the upcoming 20th anniversary show on Nov. 11. The news was announced on Wednesday morning, following Tuesday night's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night show. "It feels really good," Bergeron said on Good Morning America about his return. "I'm really looking forward to it." Bergeron will serve on the guest judge's panel for the episode. Several original pro dancers are also set to make an appearance. Related Stories TV 'Dancing With the Stars' Honors the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as Group Dances Return: See the Scores, Who Went Home (Updating Live) TV Joey Graziadei on Why He Loves Hosting the 'DWTS' Podcast and Passing on the Reigning Champ Title The news is unexpected, given Bergeron's shocking dismissal from the ABC hit reality competition series in 2020 after hosting for 15 years, and his subsequent explanations as to why. Bergeron said at the time that left the dancing series after being openly critical of the producers casting Donald Trump's former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in the show's 28th season. He later shared behind-the-scenes conversations that led to his ouster, saying that, despite having signed a new contract for three seasons, he was dismissed anyway when he protested casting any political figures to the show's producers. "Make us the wonderful escape from all that divisiveness for two hours a week," he said he urged. But the producers, whom he did not name, cast Spicer anyway. Bergeron had said he offered to "take the season off," but the producers countered by letting him out of his contract. "It really pissed me off ... my temper kicked in," Bergeron said. "I was at least going to let people know that they fucking lied to me." Bergeron also released a statement about his exit, and took to Twitter to offer more details. "I wrote the statement that I wrote, that did not name anybody, that did not name a political party. It merely said, 'I was told certain things when I was asked my opinion, they agreed, and now they've thrown a curveball.' They're the producers of the show. If that's what they want to do, they are entitled to do that. We will have to agree to disagree," he wrote. Bergeron still hosted the show for that season before he left. Spicer was voted out after eight weeks of mocking from social media and the show's judges. He said he knew "this is probably my last season ... because of that one betrayal," adding of his statement about the exit, "My lawyer had said to me, 'It's really well written, but you're putting a bullseye on your back.'" Co-host Erin Andrews also departed the show after that season, and America's Next Top Model creator and host Tyra Banks came on as the next host. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Live Feed 'Cobra Kai' Star Xolo Maridueña Cast in Netflix's 'One Piece' Season 3 THR Cover Story Teyana Taylor Takes Over Sean Hannity Sean Hannity Is Not Your Typical Awards Show Host Live Feed 'The Lowdown' Finale: Creator Sterlin Harjo Breaks Down Lee's Choices and How Robert Plant Inspired a Key Scene Golden Bachelor 'Golden Bachelor' Gerry Turner's Revealing New Memoir in 10 Sentences Live Feed 'Dancing With the Stars' Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night Ends With Gloomy Elimination and One Perfect Score: See the Scores, Who Went Home Live Feed 'Cobra Kai' Star Xolo Maridueña Cast in Netflix's 'One Piece' Season 3 THR Cover Story Teyana Taylor Takes Over Sean Hannity Sean Hannity Is Not Your Typical Awards Show Host Live Feed 'The Lowdown' Finale: Creator Sterlin Harjo Breaks Down Lee's Choices and How Robert Plant Inspired a Key Scene Golden Bachelor 'Golden Bachelor' Gerry Turner's Revealing New Memoir in 10 Sentences Live Feed 'Dancing With the Stars' Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night Ends With Gloomy Elimination and One Perfect Score: See the Scores, Who Went Home