Dancing with the Stars recap: Traitor Paudie achieves season best as he heads into semi-final
Traitors contestant Paudie Moloney danced to a very special song this week
Olympic rower Philip Doyle has just missed out on a place in the semi-final of this year's
Doyle had achieved a strong 31 for his jive to Queen’s
“I loved the free movement you had, the speed, stamina and precision,” judge Arthur Gourounlian commented of his performance.
Upon leaving the show, he said he had "had a blast" and paid tribute to everyone on the show — particularly the costume department, joking that no regular pair of trousers would "fit" his tall frame.
He faced singer-songwriter Tolü Makay in the dance-off. Earlier in the night, she had received a standing ovation from three out of four judges for her Charleston to Raye’s performed by RTÉ's Concert Orchestra.
"You made that dance your own," judge Karen Byrne commented. "It's all sass and fun, that was all of that and more. is the dance you bring to the quarter final."
She achieved a perfect score of 40 for the routine.
Elsewhere, star Paudie Moloney performed a graceful Viennese waltz to Annie’s Song by John Denver — a track that holds deep personal meaning for the Limerick native, as it is he and wife Berndaette's 'song'.
Byrne said his performance gave her "chills."
“What a song, what a dance," she said. "I can see you and your wife dancing that Viennese Waltz around the kitchen... beautiful."
Even judge Brian Redmond had something positive to say for Moloney.
"We wanted movement which fills up the room, sways, rise and fall... it’s exactly what you gave us tonight," he commented. He scored 24, his highest score for an individual dance to date.
Having faced two dance-offs over the past two weeks, UK star Jordan Dargan was hoping to avoid a third with his tango to Harry Styles’
"Let me tell you something, if there’s one thing I know, you belong in this competition. You came out fighting tonight. You never give up,” judge Gourounlian said.
The judges commented on how "hard" the choreography was, with Mabuse commending his dedication and calling it "out of this world."
He scored 37, including 10s from Mabuse and Gourounlian .
presenter Eric Roberts' contemporary ballroom was "intentional and elevated," Gourounlian said, while Redmond praised the Donegal man saying he had become "an accomplished, independent dancer. He scored 37, including a 10 from Byrne.
Katelyn Cummins did a salsa to the traditional Latin number Ran Kan Kan.
“Your lifts were insane,” Gourounlian commented, while Byrne said it was “bags full of fun.”
"In certain places, I think you were overwhelmed by the difficulty [of the routine]," Mabuse noted. "But it felt sassy, fun, cheeky...” She scored 35.
The dancers also took part in the annual dance marathon on Sunday night, where couples are removed one by one, with those first to depart earning just one extra point, and the last on the floor earning the full 6 points available.
The couples were removed in this order — Paudie Moloney, Tolü Makay, Katelyn Cummins, Philip Doyle and Jordan Dargan, with Eric Roberts crowned the winner.
Next week is the semi-final for our remaining five celebrities.
- Dancing with the Stars continues Sundays on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 6:30pm
