Barbara D’Urso returned to Italian television on Saturday night as a new judge on the twenty-first season of Ballando con le Stelle, sparking immediate social media reaction with a missing scoring paddle and a signature television reference during a live broadcast from the Saxa Rubra studios.
A New Season at Saxa Rubra and Changes at the Judges’ Table
The twenty-first season of the long-running dance competition launched on Saturday, October 3, 2026, marking a significant transition for the production. After broadcasting from the historic Auditorium del Foro Italico, the show relocated to a new studio facility as part of a broader refresh across the format, occupying the studio dedicated to Pippo Baudo according to DiLei. Host Milly Carlucci acknowledged the high-stakes atmosphere during the opening minutes of the broadcast, noting that she had mistaken her entrance twice before settling into the rhythm of the evening. Another behind-the-scenes adjustment saw Simone Di Pasquale taking over a role at the Sala delle Stelle while longtime co-host Paolo Belli watched from home instead of appearing in the studio, as reported by DiLei.
The judges’ table also underwent its first major restructuring in a decade. Longtime fixtures Selvaggia Lucarelli and Fabio Canino were absent from the panel, making room for incoming figures including Alberto Matano and Barbara D’Urso alongside returning experts Carolyn Smith, Ivan Zazzaroni, and Guillermo Mariotto. Meanwhile, Simona Ventura and Francesca Fialdini stepped into the roles of managing the program’s coveted scoring bonuses known as the tesoretto.
The Missing Paddle and Television Callbacks During the Premiere
D’Urso’s debut on the judging panel brought immediate theatrical moments to the scoring process. Underneath her formal attire, the television personality wore a black T-shirt featuring a creepy red font with the words busta choc
, a direct nod to her signature catchphrase from years of previous broadcasting on competing networks, as observed by DiLei.
The stylistic statement was followed by a literal search for numerical scoring tools during the critiques. When evaluating the opening boogie dance performed by television personality Jimmy Ghione and partner Anastasia Kuzmina, D’Urso attempted to display a score only to find her number missing from the desk, exclaiming that she could not find it.
D’Urso decided to raise the number 5 paddle. Unfortunately, when her turn came, she couldn’t find the right one, visibly panicking. In an attempt to retrieve it, the judge even tried to grab Carolyn Smith’s, who was sitting next to her, according to Giusy Palombo of Libero.
The coincidence of the missing tool immediately drew ironic commentary across social media platforms, given the numerical overlap with the network where D’Urso hosted programs until her departure in 2023, with user reactions highlighted by outlets such as MondoTV24.
Since I didn't come here to make little jokes and stir up behind-the-scenes drama, I don't see what I could possibly be jealous of. I don't understand what I should be jealous of. It's not like she got a lower score just because she dances with Pasquale. Barbara
Financial Speculation and Contract Negotiations Before the Debut
Ahead of her appearance on the Saturday night broadcast, intense media speculation surrounded the financial negotiations that brought D’Urso to the public broadcaster. Tabloids and online commentary frequently alleged that the former daytime host had demanded exorbitant compensation and luxury accommodations in central Rome, portraying her as a diva seeking to generate hype through secrecy.
D’Urso pushed back against those narratives in interviews leading up to the premiere, clarifying that the production operated under modest financial parameters and that the agreement was finalized on short notice.
With Milly Carlucci and Giancarlo De Andreis we never talked about fees, Rai takes care of that, Ballando's budget is low but I don't have any problem with that. Barbara
She explained that management contacted her on September 17 to outline the formal offer for the judging seat, which she accepted without negotiating special perks such as the rumored five-star hotel lodging in the city center, adding that she did not ask for a downtown hotel and intended to stay in her usual lodging.
Aurora Ramazzotti Wins Premiere Episode After Bonus Points Distribution
No contestants were eliminated during the opening evening, leaving the leaderboard fluid as bonus points from the tesoretto were distributed.
Simona Ventura awarded her bonus points to Eugenio Finardi, while Francesca Fialdini chose to reward Monica Guerritore, and Rossella Erra directed her tesoretto toward Noemi Bocchi following strong routines. When public televoting concluded the night, Aurora Ramazzotti and partner Nikita Perotti were named the winning pair of the premiere episode based on their energetic jive performance and overall technical potential.