Dancing with the Stars (Irish TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is an Irish reality television series, airing on RTÉ One that started on 8 January 2017, and is hosted by Nicky Byrne and Jennifer Zamparelli. The show is based on the original UK version, Strictly Come Dancing and is part of the Dancing with the Stars franchise. The judging panel consists of Julian Benson, Loraine Barry and Brian Redmond.
Production
In August 2016, it was confirmed that RTÉ One would broadcast an Irish version of Dancing with the Stars, which would replace the successful The Voice of Ireland, which was cancelled in order for the broadcaster to order the new show. A producer of the show commented, "We've got fantastic production people in Ireland who, I believe, deliver a show that's comparable with any of those shows on a fraction of the budget. So we're looking forward to the task of doing this equally the same way."It became quickly apparent that the television studios at RTE Television Centre in Dublin were too small for the large scale production of Dancing with the Stars would require, with the largest television studio at RTE Studio 4 at would be too small and so the production have had to be based in Ardmore Studios located in County Wicklow, whose largest studio is.
Format
The format of the series follows celebrities being paired up with professional dancers, who perform predetermined dances each week for judges' scores and public votes, with the couple with the lowest number of points being eliminated, until the winning couple remains.Judges and hosts
On 18 December 2016, RTÉ confirmed that Julian Benson, Loraine Barry and Brian Redmond would be the judges on the programme. Creative producer Darren Bennett stood in for Benson, during week five, six, seven and eight, who was absent due to illness.People in the running to be host of the show included former Westlife musician and 2012 Strictly Come Dancing contestant Nicky Byrne; as well as popular radio host Ray D'Arcy, though D'Arcy ruled himself out of the running in August 2016. In October 2016, it was reported that Marty Whelan had auditioned to host the show. In November, it was reported that Amanda Byram had been selected as one of the hosts. In December, it was confirmed that Byrne would host alongside Byram. It was also confirmed that Bláthnaid Treacy would be hosting RTÉ Two spin-off show, Can't Stop Dancing, airing on Friday nights before the live shows.
On 28 August 2018, after two series, Amanda Byram confirmed that she would not be returning as a presenter in 2019.
On 30 October 2018, Jennifer Zamparelli was confirmed as Byram's replacement.
Professional dancers and their partners
Key:Overall Highest and lowest scoring performances
The best and worst performances over each series in each dance according to the judges' scale are as follows. Team Dances and Marathons are not on this list.| Dance | Celebrity | Highest score | Celebrity | Lowest score |
| Tango | Denise McCormack | 30 | Bernard O'Shea | 10 |
| Cha-cha-cha | Lottie Ryan | 30 | Fr. Ray Kelly | 6 |
| Salsa | Dayl Cronin Denise McCormack Anna Geary | 30 | Dr. Eva Orsmond | 13 |
| Foxtrot | Aoibhín Garrihy Johnny Ward | 28 | Fr. Ray Kelly | 8 |
| Charleston | Denise McCormack Aoibhín Garrihy Anna Geary Jake Carter Ryan Andrews Gráinne Gallanagh | 30 | Marty Morrissey | 12 |
| Waltz | Cliona Hagan | 30 | Holly Carpenter Glenda Gilson | 15 |
| Quickstep | Cliona Hagan Lottie Ryan | 30 | Teresa Mannion Marty Morrissey | 12 |
| Jive | Johnny Ward | 30 | Marty Morrissey Darren Kennedy Mary Kennedy | 14 |
| Rumba | Aoibhín Garrihy | 29 | Marty Morrissey Demi Isaac Oviawe | 16 |
| Paso Doble | Erin McGregor Johnny Ward Lottie Ryan | 28 | Fr. Ray Kelly | 9 |
| American Smooth | Ryan Andrews | 30 | Dr. Eva Orsmond Michael Carruth | 12 |
| Contemporary Ballroom | Aoibhín Garrihy Jake Carter Johnny Ward Mairéad Ronan Ryan Andrews | 30 | Glenda Gilson | 18 |
| Samba | Lottie Ryan Ryan Andrews | 29 | Michael Carruth | 11 |
| Viennese Waltz | Mairéad Ronan Gráinne Gallanagh | 30 | Fr. Ray Kelly | 10 |
| Showdance | Aidan O'Mahony Aoibhín Garrihy Denise McCormack Anna Geary Mairéad Ronan Jake Carter Johnny Ward Cliona Hagan | 30 | Deirdre O'Kane | 27 |
| Trio | Gráinne Gallanagh Ryan Andrews Lottie Ryan | 30 | Aidan Fogarty | 27 |
Ranking of couples
Series overview
Episodes
Series 1 (2017)
The first series of Dancing with the Stars started on 8 January 2017 and finished on 26 March 2017.Series 2 (2018)
The second series began on 7 January 2018 and finished on 25 March 2018.Series 3 (2019)
The third series began on 6 January 2019 and finished on 24 March 2019.Series 4 (2020)
The fourth series began on 5 January 2020 and finished on 15 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Series 5 (2021)
The fifth series was cancelled on 22 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Live tour
On 19 August 2019 it was announced that live shows would take place in The INEC in Killarney on 1 and 2 November 2019.The line-up included;
- Mairéad Ronan & John Nolan, Series 3 champions
- Johnny Ward & Emily Barker, Series 3 runners-up
- Cliona Hagan & Robert Rowiński, Series 3 runners-up
- Jake Carter & Karen Byrne, Series 2 champions
- Thalia Heffernan & Ryan McShane, Series 1