Dancing with the Stars: Mrs Brown's Boys actor Rory Cowan latest celebrity to join cast

Rory Cowan. Picture: Barry McCall

Mrs Brown’s Boys actor Rory Cowan is the latest celebrity to be added to the Dancing with the Stars class of 2024.

The actor, who was also one of the narrators of Gogglebox Ireland, is the tenth and penultimate celebrity dancer to be announced as part of this year’s line-up.

On Wednesday, presenter Katja Mia was named as the ninth celebrity contestant.

Cowan, who plays Rory Brown in Mrs Brown’s Boys said he couldn’t take part in Dancing with the Stars last year because he underwent back surgery. As he prepares for his 65th birthday next year, the actor says he is ready to “go out with a bang”.

“I'm not going to be doing anything else after this. I'll continue with Fair City for as long as they like, that's wonderful show to have. But when I'm 65 I want to do as little as possible! I just think that dancing lifts your heart."

However, he says he does not expect to win the glitterball trophy. “I don't have any expectations of winning this. I've plantar fasciitis. I've had back surgery. I'm a bit decrepit for my age! I'm in good form but I just know if I don't do it this year, I'll never do it,” he adds.

Speaking on his previous dancing experience, the 64-year-old says he went to Irish dancing classes when he was three or four.

“At the time there was a champion Irish dancer called Rory O’Connor and he had a dance school out in Rathfarnham. I was a really lanky kid. All the other kids were half my size in height and I was (accidentally) kicking the girls on either side of me. Rory O'Connor said to my mother, ‘Missus, you may take that child out of here, he’s more suited to demolishing houses,’ so that's what I'm going to be doing on Dancing with the Stars.” 

On last Friday night’s Late Late Show, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, newsreader Eileen Dunne, Wild Youth singer David Whelan, drag queen superstar Blu Hydrangea, and TikTok sensation Miriam Mullins were revealed as five of the 11 contestants for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. They were followed by 2FM and Ireland's Fittest Family presenter Laura Fox, Fair City actor Shane Quigley Murphy, jockey Davy Russell, and presenter Katja Mia.

The final name to complete the lineup for the DWTS 2024 will be revealed on Friday.

Dancing with the Stars returns to RTÉ One in January 2024.