Dancing with the Stars recap: Julian Benson among those honoured on special night
Julian Benson, pictured at the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Winter Wonderland Gala Ball 2022, was honoured during Sunday night's show. Picture: Brian McEvoy
Former judge Julian Benson was among those honoured in Sunday night's Dedicated Dance Week.
Benson, who passed away in April last year, was honoured by judges Brian Redmond, Karen Byrne and Arthur Gourounlian, former judge Loraine Barry, current presenter Jennifer Zamparelli and former presenter Nicky Byrne, who all sat down to share memories of their dear friend and former colleague.
“He was the guy you wanted in your corner,” Nicky Byrne said, while Zamparelli said “The Julian Benson foundation will live on, and that will be his legacy."
The show’s professional dancers also came together to perform a disco number to Donna Summer’s in his honour.
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, with many of the dancers also achieving some of their highest scores to date.
Jordan Dargan’s American Smooth, dedicated to his mother Ruth, was not only his personal top-scoring performance but also the highest of the season to date.
Described by judge Arthur Gourounlian as “absolutely breathtaking,” and “a gift” by Karen Byrne, he received the first tens and a score of 39 put him firmly top of the leaderboard.
Katelyn Cummins, meanwhile, also blew the judges away with her contemporary ballroom dedicated to her parents, Noel and Siobhan.
“There was complete and utter silence [in the studio]," Byrne commented, "I have chills."
She scored a terrific 35.
Right at her heels was presenter Eric Roberts, who dedicated his tango to his “best friend and nephew” Oisín. Redmond said his emotion-fuelled performance had brought him “up a level” and he added 34 to the leaderboard.
Elsewhere, Tolü Makay honoured her special relationship with her sister Timmy with a "beautiful" foxtrot that earned her 32 points, while actress Stephanie Kelly's Paso Doble for her first-born, Zach scored 30 points.
Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh paid tribute to her nephew Daniel, who passed away in 2024 at the young age of 23. Her American Smooth to by Elton John was in his honour – and her emotion led to her best dance yet and a score of 30.
“Your frame, your footwork looked so effortless,” Byrne said, while head judge Mabuse said she was "so proud" of the singer.
At the lower end of the leaderboard, presenter Anne Cassin scored just 25, with Mabuse saying she was having so much fun she may have forgotten she was supposed to be dancing...
That was nothing compared to the scores for poor Paudie Moloney of fame, however.
Redmond and Mabuse gave him just 2 points each, while Gourounlian went for a 3, and Byrne a 4, with a total score of just 11.
"But, if the grandchildren vote every week, you’ll be here to the final,” Byrne noted.
The biggest upset of the night was Olympian Philip Doyle. The rower, much more used to being at the top of the leaderboard, fell victim to "celebrity killer", the samba.
Dedicated to his mother, his "cheesy" samba to ABBA's would have been better soundtracked by according to judge Redmond, "it was that bad."
He scored just 19.
Happily, no one was eliminated this week. Eliminations will return next week, along with the first dance-off of the season. Katelyn Cummins, who received the highest combined points from the judges' scores and public votes, will be immune.
- Dancing with the Stars continues Sundays on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 6:30pm
