Dancing with the Stars 2010's New Co-Host is Brooke Burke... Or is It?

The Dancing with the Stars season 10 lineup is ready to samba, cha cha and waltz in time for its March 22 premiere, headlined by plenty of emotion-inducing contestants, including Olympic golden boy Evan Lysacek and octomom Kate Gosselin. But with Samantha Harris gone from the mix, fans still don't know who's planning to take the helm alongside longtime host Tom Bergeron. According to a March 4 Tweet from Bergeron, his new co-host will be female (so sorry to Drew Lachey shippers) and a former DWTS contestant. Based on these revelations, here's a look at the lead contenders for the job. Tune in to Good Morning America on March 8 for the official announcement.

Dancing with the Stars season 10 co-host candidate #1: Brooke Burke. Star Magazine is already reporting that the svelte mother of four has the job, but since there's been no confirmation from DWTS reps, it's still speculation. Burke, who won Dancing with the Stars season 7 with professional partner Derek Hough, received a whopping 19 perfect 10s from judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli during her tenure on the show. The brunette excelled in both Latin and Ballroom styles, and was the contestant to beat from early in the season. Burke, 38, has experience as a television host, having served as the face of both Wild On! and Rock Star. She's likely the strongest of the contenders for the job: She has the experience, the know-how and the look.

Dancing with the Stars season 10 co-host candidate #2: Melissa Rycroft. The Bachelor rejectee successfully stretched her 15 minutes of fame into a very successful run on DWTS season 8, coming in third behind eventual winner Olympian Shawn Johnson. Rycroft assisted Tom Bergeron with the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup reveal during the season finale of The Bachelor, fueling speculation that she had secured the co-host gig, but Bergeron decried the rumors when he Tweeted "Melissa joined me... because of her links with both shows". She doesn't have the experience that Burke boasts, but it's always nice to see a small town girl make good after enduring -- and surviving -- painful public humiliation.

Dancing with the Stars season 10 co-host candidate #3: Mel B. Spice Girl Melanie Brown, aka Mel B, joined the race for the DWTS co-host gig a few weeks ago, according to Perez Hilton, when the mohawk-sporting Scary Spice underwent a screen test on February 24. Partnered up with Maksim 'bad boy of the ballroom' Chmerokvskiy during DWTS season 5, she powered her way through her performances, delivering one of the most memorable Paso Dobles in the reality show's history. Despite her season-long dominance, she and Chmerkovskiy ultimately took second place behind Indy Racer Helio Castroneves and country crooner Julianne Hough. Although her often brash attitude may not match up with the departed Harris' established co-host image, she'd certainly add some spice to the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup.

Stay tuned for updates.

Sources

Brooke Burke Biography, Wikipedia

Mel B to Co-Host Dancing with the Stars?!, Perez Hilton

Exclusive: Brooke Burke Gets DWTS Hosting Gig, Star Magazine