Daryl Somers issues statement confirming Dr Chris Brown has replaced him

Daryl Somers has confirmed media speculation that Dr. Chris Brown will replace him as host on the next season of Dancing With The Stars.

Daryl Somers has confirmed media speculation that Dr. Chris Brown will replace him as host on the next season of Dancing With The Stars.

The Herald Sun reported over the weekend that the big TV shake-up will be announced at Seven’s Upfronts, set to take place this Wednesday.

It would see Brown, who signed with Seven at the start of the year, replace 72-year-old Somers as co-host of the show alongside Sonia Kruger.

And Somers has now jumped the gun on Seven, confirming that he was moved on from the show to make way for Brown in a statement of his own, released via the Hey, Hey It’s Saturday Facebook page late on Sunday night.

No more Daryl on DWTS. Picture: Channel 7/Nigel Wright.

Dr Chris Brown will suit up for the gig. Picture: Seven

“Just want to confirm the speculation that I will not be hosting Dancing With The Stars in 2024,” he began.

“Seven let me know recently that they have signed Chris Brown to the network full-time and among his commitments he will be hosting DWTS.

“I realise how fortunate I have been to have had such a long and wonderful run with the program. Over a twenty year span, starting in 2004, I have completed ten series, the last one being a huge ratings success. Off the back of that I am happy to hand the Mirror Ball over to Chris and wish him all the very best. He should enjoy working with a great team both in front of and behind the camera.”

While Somers said that he would “miss the fun” of working with his DWTS co-star, and thanked Seven for their “ongoing support,” he said that he was now “unencumbered to pursue the projects I put on hold during Covid and shall have some exciting news on that score early next year.”

News.com.au has approached Seven for comment regarding Somers’ statement.

Somers’ confirmation that he had been replaced by Brown comes after Seven poached the star from Ten in February this year, signing him up for a two-year contract believed to be worth more than $1 million a year.

Dr Chris Brown and Sonia Kruger have already teamed up to host the red carpet at the Logie Awards. Picture: Supplied/Channel 7

Seven announced in June that Brown would front two new shows for the network, both set to air in 2024.

The first, an as-yet-untitled new adventure series, will see Brown take in some of the “most mind-blowing scenery on the planet, all in the pursuit of the ultimate animal encounter”.

Brown will also front Dream Home, which is billed as an “inspiring” new renovation competition where “the great Australian dream is transformed into the great Australian dream home.”

With his Dancing With The Stars gig now confirmed, expect to see a lot of Brown on your screens in 2024.

Which is reportedly exactly what he was looking for: Amanda Keller, Brown’s former co-host on Ten’s The Living Room – which was “rested” from screens in 2023 – gave some insight into his decision to swap networks back when the move was announced in February.

She revealed he was “looking for” more TV opportunities outside of his longtime hosting gig on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, which he left in the move to Seven.

“So as Chris said, ‘I’m working one month a year on television’,” Keller revealed.

“In terms of television, he’s doing I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, which pretty much goes for a month, and then he has 11 months where he’s looking for a TV project.”