Fox Developing U.S. Remake Of British Dating-Meets-Dance Format ‘Flirty Dancing’

EXCLUSIVE: Fox is taking to the dancefloor with a remake of La La Land-influenced British format Flirty Dancing.

The U.S. network has ordered a pilot of a local version of the format, which originated, and is currently airing on Britain’s Channel 4. It is the latest international format for the broadcaster following the success of Asian entertainment format The Masked Singer.

The show will be produced by Second Star, which produces the original, and All3Media America. Second Star, which is run by former Sky exec Deborah Sargeant, is part of Objective Media Group. Sargeant will exec produce alongside former Big Brother Executive Editor Tamsin Dodgson and Objective Media Group America’s Jilly Pearce.

The format offers a new twist on two genres, dating and dancing. Two complete strangers will be taught one half of a dance routine and then will go on a date where they have to dance. Once the couples have completed their dance date, they will part still not yet having spoken a word to each other, but will hope that they have done enough to warrant a second date.

The UK show, which has drawn young audiences to Channel 4, which plays it in a 10 PM midweek slot, is hosted by Dancing On Ice judge and Britain’s Got Talent winner Ashley Banjo who plays cupid using his skills as a choreographer to bring people together through the art of dance.

It is the latest entertainment offering from Rob Wade, Fox’s President of Alternative Entertainment, who joined in 2017. Last year, the former Dancing with the Stars exec producer, told Deadline that he was a “huge dance fan” and that he was “very keen to get a dating show”, which bodes well for Flirty Dancing scoring a full order.