'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 updates: Mark Ballas looking forward to Len Goodman's return; Derek Hough leaving the show?

A brand new set of celebrities is ready to hit the ballroom and show their moves to take home the ever-coveted Mirror Ball Trophy in "Dancing with the Stars" season 22, which will commence in a special two-hour premiere on March 21.

There is no available information as to the identity of the stars that will take part in the most popular dance competition on TV. What's definite though is that Len Goodman," who sat out the previous "DWTS" season, will be back on the judges' panel.

Goodman's comeback in "Dancing with the Stars" season 22 was announced in the season 21 finale, where 17-year-old Australian conservationist Bindi Irwin and partner Derek Hough were hailed as the latest champions of the show.

Pro dancer Mark Ballas, who will also be back for the new season, is excited to see Goodman back as a judge. "Len brings something to the show that I felt was a little bit absent this season – his grumpiness and his attention to tradition and you know, we need that," he told IB Times.

"He's such a staple of the show, he was definitely missed," Ballas added. He reiterated that it will be nice to have Goodman back but quipped about how odd that he looks forward to his return, considering that Goodman has the reputation of being ruthless to competitors.

As Goodman makes an entrance in "Dancing with the Stars" season 22, word on the street is that Hough will not be in the new season. He hinted the possibility during an interview with E! Online, where he said that his victory with Irwin was "not a bad way to go out."

As for the possible contestants in the new "DWTS" season, rumor has it that New York Giants and NFL running back Rashad Jennings will be joining the cast. When asked about it by TMZ, he said "I would love to do it. You know, I plan on doing it when the time is right. I'm kinda focused on football right now."

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