The Daily Star Ireland
The return of Dancing with the Stars on Sunday night marked an exciting start to the competition, as all 11 celebrities made their debut on the dancefloor. The contestants, including well-known figures like Joanna Donnelly, Rhys McClenaghan, Elaine Crowley, Kevin Dundon, and others, brought their energy and enthusiasm to the show, setting the stage for a highly competitive season.
The first episode, which didn’t include any eliminations, opened with a spectacular group performance to All I Wanna Do by Outasight, featuring the celebrities, pro dancers, and judges Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Arthur Gourounlian, and Karen Byrne. Presenters Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy also played a key role in the night’s excitement.
The competition kicked off with Danny O’Carroll, known for his role in Mrs Brown’s Boys, who danced the Foxtrot with his partner Salome Chachua to Obviously by McFly. The judges were impressed, with Karen praising Danny’s “impressive frame” and Loraine noting the “flow” in his movements. They scored 22 points.
Following them, actress Yasmin Seky performed a Samba with her partner Simone Arena to Oh Na Na by Camila Cabello. While Loraine encouraged her to find more rhythm and power, Arthur loved her sass, and Yasmin earned 25 points.
Comedian Gearóid Farrelly and Stephen Vincent impressed with a dramatic Tango to Training Season by Dua Lipa, which earned them a solid 28 points, with Karen praising their sync and Loraine admiring their clever role swaps.
Olympian Jack Woolley and his partner Alex Vladimirov took on the Viennese Waltz to Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, earning a remarkable 30 points. Karen was especially moved by Jack’s performance, calling it “lost for words” for a first dance, and Arthur highlighted Jack’s musicality.
Weather presenter Joanna Donnelly performed a Cha-cha-cha to It’s Raining Men with her partner Maciej Zieba. Though she showed some classic Cha-cha moves, the judges felt more energy and commitment were needed, and she scored 15 points.
Eurovision singer Mickey Joe Harte and Daniela Roze danced a Paso Doble to Teenage Kicks by The Undertones. While the judges acknowledged Mickey Joe’s intensity, they felt he needed to sync better with his partner, giving them 19 points.
Former Miss Universe Ireland, Aishah Akorede, dazzled with a Quickstep to Stargazing by Myles Smith, impressing the judges with her elegance and speed. Loraine particularly admired her posture and poise, earning them a high score for their performance.
