After five years as the emcee of the entertainment news series Extra, Billy Bush is leaving the show. Bush made the announcement back in May on his Hot Mic podcast. Now, Telepictures Productions has found a new personality to take his place in the upcoming season premiere in September.
When is Billy Bush leaving Extra, and what happened?
Billy Bush announced on his Hot Mics podcast back in May 2025 that he would not return as the host of Extra. This means that as the 32nd season premieres in September 2025, Billy Bush will not be there as the host. However, he chose to complete the remainder of the 31st season.
Bush cited that he wanted to focus on building his own show as the reason for his exit. “After an amazing five years hosting Extra, I’m moving on to continue building out my Hot Mics digital platform,” Bush said about his exit on his podcast. He added, “We have experienced unprecedented growth in a short period of time here on this show and I find myself hungrier and more stimulated than at any point in my professional career.”
Extra now has a new host who is set to kick off the 32nd season.
Who is replacing Billy Bush on Extra as host?
Dancing With the Stars judge Derek Hough will replace Billy Bush on Extra. Starting September 8, 2025, Hough will take over as the new host of Extra. According to reports, showrunner Jeremy Spiegel has geared the season around Hough. He introduced many changes not present in previous seasons.
“Derek has not only dominated the world of dance — he’s become a beloved household name who has won America’s hearts with his talent, charisma and boundless creativity,” Spiegel said in a statement (via Variety). He added, “I am excited to work closely with Derek as he brings his electrifying energy and fresh perspective to ‘Extra.'”
Hough has won four Emmys and built a strong career. He is also expected to bring a fresh perspective to Extra.
