Dancing with the Stars recap: The first elimination, shirtless salsa, and first nine of the season

Michael Fry was the first celebrity to leave the competition

Sun, 11 Jan, 2026 - 21:00

Nicole Glennon

Michael Fry has become the first celebrity to leave this year's Dancing with the Stars.

The comedian's samba got a rousing applause from the in-studio audience and plenty of positive comments from the panel, including a decent score of 23, but unfortunately, it seems it didn't connect with voters at home.

Fry said he had "the best time" on the show. "I was really scared, but I wanted to do it, and I did it scared.”

Comedian Michael Fry said he did Dancing with the Stars 'scared'

Saved by the public, despite finding himself at the bottom of the leaderboard, was singer Brian Kennedy. His Cha Cha Cha earned just 13 points. Head judge Oti Mabuse said she wished the singer focused on the “technical” side more, while Brian Redmond said it was more “stompy than slick”.

Stephanie Kelly also struggled with her Cha Cha Cha to Britney Spears's I'm a Slave 4 U, forgetting her steps in parts.

“Even if you make mistakes, it's how you recover,” Mabuse advised her. She scored 19.

Nationwide's Anne Cassin had the crowd on her side with a fiery Paso Doble. The majority of the judging panel, however, felt her paso didn’t meet the drama of the song and that her "paso shaping" was lacking. She scored 18.

At the opposite end of the scoreboard, reigning Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, who topped last week’s leaderboard with an incredible score of 31, opened this week’s show with a sprightly jive to Rosé and Bruno Mars' APT, earning her 28 points.

Mabuse said she didn’t know how everyone was going to “keep up” with the apprentice engineer.

Singer Tolu Makay topped the leaderboard

Well, Tolü Makay gave her a run for her money with the "dance of the night".

Her American Smooth to Man I Need by Olivia Dean earned a standing ovation from judge Arthur Gourounlian while Redmond called it "understated, powerful and elegant". She topped the leaderboard with 32, and the first nine of the season!

Philip Doyle was another high scorer on Sunday night. He said he “loved” the salsa during training, and it was obvious on the dance floor. From tearing his shirt off and dropping to the floor to do a round of push-ups to flinging partner Daniela Roze left, right, and centre with a shocking number of lifts, it was a sight for the eyes and left host Zamperelli speechless.

“I don’t even know what to say,” judge Karen Byrne commented, while Mabuse said it was “hot, hot, hot!” He was rewarded with 31 for the scoreboard.

Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh also had a great week. Her quickstep was “gorgeous,” according to Byrne, while Mabuse said it suited her “to a T.” Redmond said she “had to be commended”. She was awarded 28.

The Apprentice star Jordan Dargan performed a Viennese Waltz to Kingfishr's Diamonds & Roses.Gourounlian said he believed Dargan was “a diamond in the rough, but with a few weeks of polishing.. I think you could be the jewel of this competition.” Byrne, meanwhile, said after his fantastic Latin routine last week, she had been curious to see how he’d fare with ballroom.

“That dance proved you’re an all-rounder,” she said. He scored 25.

Ireland AM's Eric Roberts got a mixed reaction from the judges

Tellymen Eric Roberts and Paudie Moloney, meanwhile, found themselves in the early to mid twenties.

Roberts’ foxtrot split the judging panel, with Mabuse and Gourounlian feeling it was lacking, while Redmond and Byrne were more positive, saying they believed the others were being overly harsh. He scored 22.

“What a gentleman,” Gourounlian commented following Traitor Moloney's waltz. “What a gear change, Mabuse said, “your attention to detail was incredible.” He scored 23.

Podcaster Amber Wilson’s biggest critique last week was that her nerves got the better of her. Was her confidence clear this week? According to the judges, yes!

“You delivered this week,” Gourounlian commented, while Byrne declared, “Amber has arrived! This was miles better than last week.” She walked away with 24 — and a ticket to next week's famous movie week.