As Ranking the Stars returns to screens in the Netherlands this week, the long-running entertainment format marks 20 years since its Dutch debut, a milestone that underscores its sustained success in one of the most competitive international markets.
Created by TV Asahi in 2004, and distributed by Warner Bros. International Television Production, Ranking the Stars has grown into one of the most enduring celebrity entertainment formats, with 11 international adaptations to date, including India, Belgium and Germany. The Netherlands remains its longest-running territory.
The new season, produced by Medialane, premieres on RTL 4 and Videoland on Saturday 31st January with host Paul de Leeuw once again at the helm.
Ranking the Stars is the fast-paced game show that invites celebrities to rate themselves – and each other – with refreshing honesty. Ten well-known panellists are faced with a series of unexpected questions covering reputation, relationships and public behaviour. Who is most likely to sell a story? Who has the most former partners? For each question, the panellists rank themselves and one another from one to ten, aiming to match both the group consensus and the public view. Points are awarded for accuracy, with the highest scorer at the end of the episode taking the win.
Ranking the Stars proves that celebrities are at their most revealing… when they are busy judging each other.
André Renaud, WBITVP’s GVP of Format and Finished Sales, says: “Ranking the Stars is a format that audiences have grown up with, and one they continue to come back to together across generations and changing viewing habits. Its longevity speaks to the strength of the original idea from our partners at TV Asahi, and reaching this milestone in the Netherlands is a real achievement. I’m sure that viewers will love seeing this new season come to life, and there’s every reason to believe there will be plenty more laughter to come.”
Setsuko Yoda, TV Asahi’s Head of Formats, says, “We are excited to see Ranking the Stars reach this incredible milestone in the Netherlands. The format was born from a simple idea: that honesty, humour and a bit of playful chaos can bring people together. We are grateful to our partners at Warner Bros. International Television Production for helping the show travel so far, and we are thrilled that Dutch viewers continue to embrace it season after season.”
