Michael Carruth, Yewande Biala and Fr. Ray Kelly Confirmed to Join the Line Up for RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars

Tonight on The Late Late Show Ryan Tubridy unveiled three new Dancing with the Stars contestants. Olympic Gold medallist Michael Carruth, Love Islander Yewande Biala and singing sensation Fr. Ray Kelly all confirmed they are set to quickstep their way onto the new series when it returns to RTÉ One in the New Year. They were joined on the couch by fellow dancer Glenda Gilson who was announced on the line-up earlier in the week.

Speaking about his participation in the hit television show Michael said; “I’m hugely excited; it’s a programme we watch as a family all the time, myself, my wife and my kids, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a little bit nervous and anxious about it too as I’m completely going out of my comfort zone, but I know what I’m like, I’m in it so I’ll want to win it, that’s the way I am.  At 52 years of age I still love to give myself challenges and this is a huge challenge and I’m looking forward to it.” 

Love Islander, Yewande added “I’m super excited, just excited to learn new moves and meet new people.  It’ll be interesting to get to know everyone.  I just want to enjoy the experience overall really.”

More comfortable hitting high notes than hitting the dance floor Fr. Ray Kelly commented: “I’m very excited but there’s a little bit of apprehension there as well because it’s not singing… if you asked me to sing ten songs… no problem… but no I have to use my feet and we’re into a whole different ball game when I have to use the feet.  So I’m hoping that it won’t be two left feet all the time and that I’ll be able to get it together…but from watching it on television it sounds so exciting and it’s great to be part of such a great production so I look forward to the weeks ahead”.

Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne will reunite this January to present the new series of Dancing with the Stars. Airing on RTÉ One for 12 weeks from Sunday 5 January at 6.30pm, a total of 11 celebrities will partner with their professional dancers as they take on a brand new challenge and change their daily routines for dance routines. Each will be hoping to claim the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

The couples will tackle a different dance genre each week from the Paso Doble to the Viennese waltz and will have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing it live to the nation.

Also returning this year is the fabulous panel of judges: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Julian Benson. They will cast their expert eyes over the dancers each week and judge them on their performances. Once again the celebrities and their dancers will be scored by both the judges and the viewing public at home.

There will be even more exclusive Dancing with the Stars content to enjoy as RTÉ’s social channels cover all the backstage antics with the effervescent James Patrice at the helm.For all the latest news and backstage gossip follow RTÉ One at www.facebook.com/rteone , www.instagram.com/rteone

www.twitter.com/rteone #DWTSIrl

In a new addition this year, James Patrice will bring you extra behind-the-scenes news in a brand new weekly podcast.  Including chats with stars, theirprofessional partners and the judges, it will be available every Monday to keep the Dancing with the Stars buzz going after the main show has aired.

And finally Dancing with the Stars will be available to watch live on RTÉ Player with the opportunity to catch up on each individual dance.

Dancing with the Stars is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ.