Dancing with the Stars: Shane Quigley Murphy eliminated as message issued over body shaming
Fair City Actor Shane Quigley Murphy with his dance partner Laura Nolan during Dancing with the Stars Picture: Kyran O’Brien /kobpix
Fair City's Shane Quigley Murphy has become the third celebrity dancer to be voted off Dancing with the Stars.
The actor had come under the spotlight with a slow, sultry rumba in week five, but unfortunately, the judges didn't feel he stepped up to the mark.
"Your role here was to lead," Loraine said, "I feel you got a little bit lost." He had scored just 19 points.
Speaking after the result Shane said: “I’m gutted, no one wants to go but someone has to... I’m happy as Larry to get to week 5.”
Davy Russell opened the show with an American Smooth, which judge Arthur Gourounlian said showed a "different side" to the jockey. Judge Brian Redmond said his footwork was to be commended, but he wasn't delivering "the full package" just yet. He scored 20.
Self-professed DWTS superfan Laura Fox well and truly hit her stride this week, with a sizzling samba earning her a score of 27 which topped the leaderboard. “For a girl from Galway... that looked like you were born in Brazil," Brian exclaimed. "It doesn’t get much better than that!"
s David Whelan has been on the up-and-up, week-on-week, but Brian said while his cha-cha-cha was brilliant, it "wasn't David Whelan brilliant". Head judge Loraine Barry said she concurred that while entertaining, there were some issues with the technical side of things. He walked away with 24 points.
Former newsreader Eileen Dunne found herself bottom of the leaderboard once more with a score of 17. Her jive to 'Let's Twist Again' got "a little bit slow," Arthur said.
Elsewhere, Rosanna Davison set hearts racing with her Charleston. "That is by far the best I've seen you dance," Brian said, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat after being visited by "Nurse Rosie" as part of the performance. She scored 26.
Blu Hydrangea's dramatic contemporary ballroom to Loreen's 'Tattoo' was impacted by the drag queen's microphone coming loose during the performance. Despite this, she didn't appear to miss a step, which the judges were highly impressed by, and she added 25 to the leaderboard.
Jason Smyth's salsa "became a bit manic in places" for Brian, while Arthur said he thinks the Paralympian got "a little bit overwhelmed". Adding 18 to the leaderboard, he narrowly avoided bottom place.
Katja Mia closed the show on Sunday with a Viennese waltz. "It was so amazing to see the soft and gentle side to you," Arthur commented, "this dance was stunning inside and out, just like you." She scored 23.
host had spoken out this week about receiving cruel messages online about her body, including one from a woman who had said she was "too heavy to be dancing".
Following Katja's performance, head judge Loraine took the opportunity to "send a message out to those who need to hear it".
"I am a world champion, I have the credentials to say this. Katja is a beautiful dancer, and all ladies and all men — whatever shape and size, have the right to dance." She continued, "if you have a problem with that, that is problem."
Speaking to host Doireann Garrihy after Loraine's message, Katja said it was "amazing" to have the support of the esteemed dancer and head judge.
"It was hard to get out there this week," she admitted, wiping away tears. "He [dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas] really helped me through it this week."
Speaking about the online negativity, she said it was important to "learn to not let anyone that's a hater have any power over you".
"You are in charge of your life. I'm out here pushing myself every week and I'm proud of myself."
- Dancing with the Stars continues on RTÉ One every Sunday at 6:30pm
