Dancing with the Stars: Sinéad O'Connor, Chris de Burgh among those honoured
Dancing with the Stars: Dedicated dance week
It was an emotional night at Dancing with the Stars, as the eight couples each danced in honour of a special person in their lives as part of Dedicated Dance Week.
First to take to the dancefloor on Sunday night were the pro dancers who delivered a beautiful performance to Nothing Compares 2 U in honour of the late, great Sinéad O'Connor.
Next up was Blu Hydrangea with a fierce Paso Doble to Sissy That Walk by RuPaul in honour of the American drag star. Blu, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World in 2022, said the dance was for "anybody at home who feels like you can't find your tribe — some day you will".
Head judge Loraine Barry had nothing but good words to say about the Belfast star's performance. "Characterisation, that lovely interaction with each other, that lovely surge of intense energy all the way through... you did good." Arthur Gourounlian, meanwhile, said it was hard to tell who was the pro dancer or who was the celebrity, always a good sign! He scored 24.
Paralympian Jason Smyth and his partner Karen Byrne (yes, in tears again!) took to the floor with a very special guest performer this week — bunny. The teddy, beloved by Jason's daughters, was a way to bring them into his gorgeous Viennese waltz. Judge Brian Redmond complimented the partnership between Karen and Jason, who is legally blind, in particular, saying it was almost "telepathic" at this point. He scored 20.
Katja Mia dedicated her tango to sisters Fiona and Andrea — who appeared on the floor at the start of the routine in matching glittery outfits. Loraine said it was a "beautiful tango" and Katja "absolutely nailed" the hardest tango step. She scored 26.
David Whelan danced the rumba for his dad — who, it turns out, is a ballroom dancer. Whelan admitted as a youngster he was embarrassed of his father's profession, but now, he says, his involvement in the show has "opened up a whole new level of love" between the pair.
"That was absolute perfection," Brian commented. "There was one little wobble but we'll forget that... it's amazing to think you're a beginner, that's the closest I've seen to a championship rumba on this show." He scored 28, including the first 10 of the season from Loraine.
Davy Russell dedicated his contemporary ballroom to his beloved wife, Edelle, who he says he knew was the one from the moment he met her.
"All this dedication, this hard work... it's starting to pay off," Brian commented, and this was seen in his scores, with two 9's this week, and a total of 26, his highest score of the season.
Eileen Dunne honoured her decades-long friendship with broadcaster Mary Kennedy in her foxtrot. All three judges commented on "timing issues", with Arthur saying it was a bit of a "bumpy road". She scored 17, the lowest score of the night.
Laura Fox's quickstep was for her gorgeous Nono, her granny. Loraine described it as "fabulous" and "fun" and she scored 25.
Rosanna Davison closed the night with a rumba to The Lady in Red, in honour of her father, Chris de Burgh, who is celebrating fifty years in the industry. Loraine described it as "sexy and sultry". She scored 26.
Nobody was eliminated this week, but Davy Russell received the highest combined points between the judges and viewers at home scoring immunity from next week's dreaded dance-off.
Dancing with the Stars continues on RTÉ One every Sunday at 6:30pm
