Nicolas Roche reaches his last stop on tonight’s Around The World themed Dancing with the Stars quarter final

Tonight’s Around the World theme on Dancing with the Stars saw performances across the evening inspired by locations from Tokyo to Rio, and London to Istanbul, as the celebs battled it out in a bid to make it to next Sunday’s semi-finals. There was a one-way ticket home for cyclist Nicolas Roche and partner Karen Byrne, whose Dancing with the Stars journey ground to a halt after a quarter-final dance-off against Ellen Keane and Ervinas Merfeldas. All three judges chose to save Ellen, but heaped praise onto Nicolas following his final performance.

Leaving the show this evening, Nicolas said: “It has been an incredible journey – when I was told about the show, I straight away agreed and I have no regrets, it has been a life-chancing experience.”

It was a busy night for the stars, with two dances each to complete before the dance-off at the end of the show. Tonight’s Dancing with the Stars was the first of the season to feature competitive group dances, where the remaining six hopefuls battled it out in groups of three with their pro-partners. With Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne presenting, judges Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond, and Arthur Gourounlian were on hand with their expert opinions and scores throughout the evening.

First to take to the floor was athlete Ellen Keane with pro-partner for the night Ervinas Merfeldas, dancing a lift-filled  samba to Left My Heart in Tokyo – a nod to Ellen’s gold medal win there. The pair had just one day to master the routine together, after Ellen’s dance partner Stephen Vincent tested positive for Covid-19. “It has been a mad 24 hours and Ervinas has done so much,” Ellen said. “He did such a good job”

Commenting after the dance, Loraine said: “You have pulled this together in less than 24 hours…you both saved the day, you were both warriors. I loved this.”
Arthur said: “Ellen, you didn’t leave your heart in Tokyo, you left your heart on the dancefloor tonight. You are fearless.”

Brian said: “I really really liked that, I thought you did it very well…you proved again this week Ellen that you are a real fighter.” – Ellen and Ervinas scored 26 from the judges.

Next up was cyclist Nicolas Roche, with pro Karen Byrne, dancing a floaty foxtrot to Sinatra’s I Love Paris – Nicolas moved to live in France in his teenage years.

Brian said: “You are improving so much across your top line and captured the character of what is an extremely difficult technical dance.”
Loraine said: “Foxtrot is the gentleman’s dance and for me that’s what makes you look so good.”
Arthur said: “When I heard you were doing the foxtrot, I thought ‘this is right up his alley’, and I was right.”
– Nicolas and Karen scored 21 from the judges

Rugby star Jordan Conroy had a new partner also this week, with Emily Barker stepping in for Salome Chachua. Jordan was hoping to keep out of the dance off, after finding himself in the bottom two for the past two weeks. Jordan and Emily danced a lively charleston to The Bangles’ Walk Like an Egyptian.

Loraine said: “It was truly a wonderful number.”
Brian said: “I always felt charleston was a dance that was going to suit you – you proved me right.”
Arthur said: “Your dancing ability, your strength and commitment to this competition is flawless”
– Jordan and Emily scored 29 from the judges.

The fourth celebrity to dance was Love Island star Matthew MacNaab with pro-partner Laura Nolan, dancing a sultry tango to Rio by Duran Duran.

Arthur said: “Matthew, you brought the passion of Rio to the dancefloor tonight.”
Brian said: “You started with intensity, commitment to the movement… it’s just the face that’s missing at this stage, your body brought us on the journey”
Loraine said: “I like this Matthew, I felt you got yourself in the correct tango position.”
– Matthew and Laura scored 23 from the judges.

Singer Erica-Cody and partner Denys Samson were thrilled to return to the floor together, after Denys had to miss last week’s show. Dancing a cha-cha-cha, the pair ventured to Italy with their energetic routine set to Mambo Italiano.

Brian said: “Denys, it’s great to have you back! Great rythm, great action. By far the best cha-cha we have seen this year.”
Loraine said: “That crispness was there, that’s the real cha-cha-cha that we want”
Arthur said: “Another spellbinding, memorable performance”
– Erica and Denys scored from top marks with 30 points the judges.

Last up were jockey Nina Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca, taking their inspiration from London with an American smooth to A Foggy Day (in London Town)

Loraine said: “Soft, flowing, glitzy, glamorous…it had the Hollywood style American smooth”
Brian said: “The way you glided around that room…that is class”
Arthur said: “Nina, that was beautiful, like a feather flowing in front my eyes. The timing was super.”
– Nina and Pasquale scored 29 from the judges.

For the group performances, The Cuban Groovers consisted of Ellen & Ervinas, Jordan & Emily, and Nicolas & Karen, dancing freestyle to Cuba, with Nicolas commenting that the trio of athletes would cope well under pressure!

– The Cuban Groovers scored 27 from the judges.

The team Turkish Delights was made up of Erica & Denys, Matthew & Laura, and Nina & Pasquale, dancing to Istanbul (not Constantinople).

-Turkish Delights were victorious, scoring 29 from the judges

With the points added to the dancer’s overall leaderboard scores, Erica and Denys were topping the leaderboard, and Nicolas and Karen at the bottom of the board. In the end, then the votes were counted, it was Nicolas and Ellen who had to dance again in the dance-off, with the deciding vote going to the judges in studio.

The Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast presented by Lottie Ryan is available on RTÉ.ie/podcasts, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Tonight’s eliminated couple will be interviewed on The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 tomorrow morning. Dancing with the Stars is proudly sponsored by Muller Corner.