It's almost that time again! There are a string of famous faces lined up to dance across our screens on Dancing With The Stars this January.
The celebrity dance competition is set to return with Doireann Garrihy and Jennifer Zamparelli back to host the show.
Jennifer has revealed that this year's group is her 'favourite casting so far.' So, who are the celebrities who are set to dust off their dancing shoes on RTÉ?
Aishah Akorede
Former Miss Universe Ireland Aishah Akorede was the first star to be announced for the upcoming season. She will have a slight advantage over the other stars, as she comes from a ballet background.
On joining the cast of Dancing With The Stars, Aishah revealed that she is 'mostly excited' about learning how to dance like a ballroom dancer.
She said: 'I did ballet from the age of four to 15, but I had to stop. I'm like a footballer that just never got to go professional because of a knee injury.'
Aisha is a university student, pursuing a qualification in chartered governance. She already has a Masters Degree in Law from Queens University Belfast. She was crowned Miss Universe Ireland in 2023.
The Kildare native also found the time to start up 'Recrowned Ireland', which is a non-profit social justice initiative that strives to make a lasting impact on key societal concerns. Talk about brains and beauty!
Danny O’Carroll
Joining the list of Mrs Brown's Boys alumni who have competed on Dancing With The Stars, Danny O'Carroll is set to star in the 2025 season.
Best known for his role as Buster Brady in the comedy, Danny has revealed that he has 'wanted to do it for the last four years.' It was actually his role on his dad's show that kept him from it.
'I have always been touring the UK with Mrs. Brown’s Boys in January, so it just wasn’t possible. But this year, we’re touring in Ireland for the first time in over twelve years, and I can commute to get the rehearsals in so it’s working out really well. I’m delighted to finally be able to do it!' he explained.
Gearóid Farrelly
The third star to be announced for the upcoming season is Gearóid Farrelly. The funnyman will be swapping out his stand-up mic for a pair of dance shoes this January!
His appearance on the show will see him dance with a male partner and Gearóid is thrilled to be flying the flag for the gay community even if he is a little concerned about his dance skills.
Gearóid is shaking things up on the show, as he will dance with a male partner as he is a member of the gay community. 'As a young gay kid, if I had seen two men dancing together on the television, it would have been such a relief,' he said.
Talking about his onscreen dance partner, he said: 'He's just the best, I was a little concerned at the beginning about being in this man's space because he's straight and I'm gay and I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, or that he felt he had to do this.'
There are more celebrities expected to be announced in the coming days, and it is shaping up to be a pretty promising line-up. We can see why the group is Jennifer Zamparelli's favourites!
Jack Woolley
Irish Olympian Jack Woolley is also preparing to show off his dancing skills when the New Year rolls around.
Jack was the first person to represent Ireland in taekwondo at the Olympic Games after making his debut with Team Ireland in Tokyo in 2020. He also competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In August 2021, just five days after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended, Jack was hospitalised after being attacked in Dublin and later received an outpouring of support when he appeared on the Late Late Show.
Chatting about Dancing With The Stars, Jack said: ‘I’m excited. This is something completely new for me. I think taekwondo is going to help because I'm flexible and I know my body, but remembering the steps is completely different.'
Mickey Joe Harte
Mickey Joe shot to fame as the first winner of You're A Star and subsequently went on to represent Ireland at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest in Riga with We've Got The World Tonight.
‘I just thought the time felt right,' Mickey Joe said as he chatted about why he was taking part in Dancing With The Stars.
'Honestly, even a few years ago I probably wouldn't have been open to it but I think with Eurovision last year and Bambie Thug doing so well it felt like there's a nice buzz out there. I think it's just the right time and I'm not getting any younger.’
Elaine Crowley
Elaine is no stranger to the spotlight having worked in broadcasting for Virgin Media for over 20 years but how will she fare on the dancefloor?
Well with her characteristic honesty, Elaine confessed that she was egged on to do the show because it's been a long time since she has stepped out of her comfort zone.
'I've never done anything remotely like this before, never mind in front of so many people. But my eldest sister said to me, you haven't put yourself out of your comfort zone for decades.
'You can interview politicians. You can do the all the stuff on Ireland AM but challenge yourself for once. So class of 2025 bring it on. What's the worst that can happen?'
Kevin Dundon
As one of Ireland's leading chefs, Kevin Dundon is used to working under pressure but he has yet to face the wrath of the DWTS' judging panel!
Kevin revealed the sweet reason that he decided to take part in the show was so his wife would have someone to dance with at weddings but confessed that all of his coordination is in his fingers.
'I'm excited. The fact that I'm actually going to learn to dance means that my wife will hopefully now enjoy dancing with me at weddings, and I won't make a complete fool of myself!
'I'm a little bit nervous as it's quite difficult to learn the moves. It's tricky. As a chef, I'm coordinated but not with my feet. My first dance is an American Smooth so I'm going to treat it like a risotto, nice and slow with a little bit of excitement at the end.'
Kayleigh Trappe
Ireland's mimic Queen surely won't have any problem picking up some new moves but says the glam will take a bit of getting used to.
'I'm so excited. It feels so surreal especially because I'm so used to being behind the camera in the comfort of my home, and now I'm going full glitz and glam.
'It's a big change but I can't wait to get the glitter ball rolling!
This type of glam has never been part of my life but I have so much support from my family and friends at home in Monaghan, I can't wait to be in the midst of it all now.'
Rhys McClenaghan
Ireland's gold medal-winning gymnast is surely a front-runner for Dancing With The Stars glory and is already knuckling down with his training and might we see a pommel horse at some point?
'I'm thrilled to take on this new challenge and look forward to bringing some gymnastic skills to the dance floor.
'I am approaching my training for the 2025 competition year differently. I took some travel to travel, and as I begin my first training block for the LA Games, I will also have some fun figuring out how to dance!
'Hopefully, with the guidance of my pro dance partner, I can bring some of my pommel horse flair to the dance floor too!'
Yasmin Seky
Kin actress Yasmim Seky confessed that she is both excited and nervous to be taking part and says that it was her anxiety that she occasionally suffers from that spurned her on to take part.
'I'm a little nervous, as I've never really done anything like this before. But I'm really excited too. I suppose nervousness and excitement manifest in the body the same way, so I don't know which one I am!
'I think the anxiety that I have from time to time motivated me to take part. With acting on screen, if you mess up you can go again but with this, you get one shot and you just have to make it happen!'
Joanna Donnelly
Ending on a high note, meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has been confirmed as the final famous face to compete in the competition.
The RTÉ weather reporter has admitted that she is a long-time fan of the show, and can't wait to get dancing! 'I’m ready to get my feet moving! I’ve watched the show all these years, and all I want to do is learn how to dance,' she said.
The star is on track to do her mum proud by competing on the show, redeeming herself from the costly dance decision she made very early in her career,
'I had an Irish dancing lesson back in 1979 and my mother spent a year’s savings on an Irish dancing costume, but I did one Feis and then quit,' Joanna recalled. 'She never let me live it down! But she was a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars, so she’s definitely got my back on this.'
