Well holy God! Glenda’s cartwheel lights up DWTS stage
Glenroe is back on the telly on Sunday nights — but not as we know it.
Christened ‘Team GlenRo’, TV presenter Glenda Gilson and dance partner Robert Rowinski were first to take to the Dancing With The Stars dance floor to kick off the ladies’ performances before the judges with a challenging cha-cha.
Meanwhile, Lottie Ryan’s power-packed jive dazzled viewers even more than judge Julian Benson’s glitter-tastic outfit.
Team GlenRo played to their strengths — Glenda’s long legs, according to all the judges — and despite some nerves-related timing issues in the early stages, Glenda finished with a cartwheel — in heels.
A chachalicious start to tonight's show from @Glendagilson and @rowinski_robert 17 points!@DWTSIRL pic.twitter.com/JlLVUSHthg
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 12, 2020
The judges gave them 17 out of 30, with suggestions that Glenda, in true Glenroe style, find a more earthy performance next week.
From the catwalk to the dancefloor, model and former Miss Universe Ireland Grainne Gallanagh and her dance partner, Kai Widdrington, danced the tango, impressing judges Brian Redmond and Julian Benson with her frame.
Grainne and @Kaiwidd nail it with their Tangoi. 18 points!@DWTSIRL pic.twitter.com/eVw6kzjp2h
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 12, 2020
They all urged her to dig deep and find her inner actress, giving the couple 18.
However, social media reacted angrily to Nicky Byrne’s jibe at her in the after-dance interview.
“It’s not the first time you’ve been tangoed,” he joked, as they flashed a paparazzi-style photograph of her, fake-tanned up to her eyeballs after a modelling shoot.
B*Witched pop star Sinead O’Carroll and her partner, Ryan McShane, wowed with their American smooth, moving around the floor with ease and elegance, and with a nice shoulder shrug towards the end.
A "graceful and elegant" American Smooth from @sinocarroll and @RYANMCS 21 points.@DWTSIRL pic.twitter.com/hAJr4WQGDi
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 12, 2020
Giving the couple 21 out of 30, the judges described Sinead, who hit the limelight with the girl group in 1997, as a star in the making.
Nursing bruised ribs, Love Island star Yewande Biala braved the pain and danced a summer salsa, enduring three challenging lifts above the head of her partner, Stephen Vincent.
A beautiful opening to this Love Island Summer Salsa from @yewande_biala and @SteveVincent17 16 points!@DWTSIRL DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/BYvyg1BlUs
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 12, 2020
The judges praised her bravery and courage for taking to the floor while injured, and gave them 16.
National treasure Mary Kennedy, recently retired as presenter of Nationwide, and her partner John Nolan danced the foxtrot to Mary Black’s ‘No Frontiers’.
A fabulous Foxtrot from @KennedyMary and @johnednolan 13 points!@DWTSIRL pic.twitter.com/4aSPq8GrHc
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 12, 2020
Julian gushed about her timeless elegance, and Lorraine described her dance as anything but a retirement performance, but Brian brought things back to earth with a crash, lamenting the lack of rise and fall in her performance, describing it as “flat”, and giving her just a three. The couple scored 13.
2FM presenter Lottie Ryan, the bookies’ favourite, stepped out from behind her microphone with partner Pasquale La Rocca to blow the audience away with an energy-charged jive.
A trained dancer who studied at New York’s Broadway Dance Centre and who taught dance classes in Dublin for several years, Lottie drew a standing ovation, before the judges said she has the potential to go a long way in the competition.
The "pocket rocket" @LottieRyan1 and @pacolarocca owned that jive!
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 12, 2020
20 points.@DWTSIRL #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/AYBL0E2RV0
Lorraine urged her to work on foot technique, and Brian said she needed a bit more bounce, but summed it up by saying: “Lottie you little legend.”
They gave the couple 20.
The public votes from the gents’ show last week, and tonight’s ladies’ show, will be carried forward, along with the judges’ votes to next week’s live show, when the first elimination will be announced.
