There's nothing like being cheered on by your home team and Laura Nolan and Rhys McClenaghan have bucketloads of support from their loved ones.
The pro dancer and Olympian are paired up on Dancing With The Stars, topping the leaderboard with 30 points on Sunday with their Cha Cha.
Chatting after the show, Rhys and Laura said they're having an absolute ball competing and want to keep on pushing themselves each week.
They also praised their loved ones for cheering them on and gave an insight into their rehearsals where they're often supported by Laura's fiancé Matthew MacNabb.
Former Love Islander Matthew is well-placed to offer advice on their dance routines, after all, it was during his time on the show that he met his wife-to-be!
Sharing a little about their rehearsals and how Matthew has been a great help, Rhys said: ‘Matthew has been working in the studio while we're rehearsing. He'll give me little tips that he learned on the show... as he's been through it. It’s really, really helpful. He's been showing me things.
Laura agreed, laughing as she said Matthew is quite opinionated on their routines: '[Matthew's] so funny. I'll do a routine, and I'm like, “I’m not really a hundred percent of that part” and he'd be like, “yeah, I think you’re right. After all the years that I’ve watched you on the show, I agree. I think you this [instead].”
'So he's good in that regard, he's almost a third eye. He’s great at videoing us and giving advice. He's very supportive and I think it's great that he actually gets it because he's done it himself.'
Matthew isn’t the only supportive partner as Rhy’s girlfriend Emilee Carr has also been coming to rehearsals when she can and to the live shows in Dublin.
‘She's been in as well for a couple of the rehearsal sessions and she's been on every live show as well,’ Rhys happily said. ‘She loves coming to the live shows so she’s on board as well and I think that's important, to have your loved ones back home because this is quite a commitment.
‘I'm now based in Dublin for the next however long I'm on the show and to get up and go [relocate] like that it's a big deal, so you need to have that support system back home.
Laura added: ‘She's absolutely incredible. She's been so supportive and on to me all the time. She gives little critiques and stuff.
'She's like, “yeah, I really like that. I really like that dance.” It's just so nice to have that support system from her. I was literally only saying [recently] that we are going to try to go up [to Northern Ireland] maybe once a week just to train up there and see his family and also get them all involved.
'I think that's really important as well. This is a very unique experience and it's nice to have as many people involved in it as possible.’
We can't wait to see what Laura and Rhys dance on Sunday for movie week!
