NINA CARBERRY AND PRO-PARTNER PASQUALE LA ROCCA CROWNED DANCING WITH THE STARS CHAMPIONS

Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca have been crowned Dancing with the Stars Champions 2022. Nina and pro-partner Pasquale won over the public following an evening of sensational performances, and were crowned champions after 12 weeks of live dances on the show.

“This is an incredible show and I’m delighted to be part of it all!” Nina said.

Partner Pasquale, who also won with Lottie Ryan on the last series of the show, described Nina as “a dream woman“, following the win.

The cast of Dancing with the Stars 2022 have kept audiences thrilled and entertained with their captivating live performances on Sunday evenings since the cold nights of early January, and tonight, everything was still to play for in the grand final!

Presented by Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne, the judges Arthur Gourourlian, Brian Redmond, and Loraine Barry returned to the dancefloor for one last time this series to given their votes – but tonight, it was only the votes of the public that went towards deciding the winner.

Opening the show, the pros joined forces with the show’s judges for a performance set to Westlife’s Starlight. Each of the remaining finalists took to stage twice in a bid to win the coveted glitterball trophy. First up,  Ellen & Stephen, Nina & Pasquale, Erica and Denys, and Jordan & Salome took to the floor to perform their “judge’s choice” number, featuring dances from earlier in the season.

-Athlete Ellen Keane & Stephen Vincent were first to perform their paso doble to Beyonce’s  – Run the World.

Loraine said: “You said you wanted to be fierce, this was on point tonight. Terrific paso doble. Beyonce style. I really feel thought you executed this to perfection.”

Arthur said: “Last time, this was a 10 from me. Tonight, it was even better. Can I get a paddle with 11? Powerful element in this dance – I’m here and I’m a contender for trophy.”

Brian said: “Tonight it was in-sync to the split-second.  A great way to open the show.”

Ellen and Stephen scored 30 from the judges.

– Jockey Nina Carberry & Pasquale then danced a Viennese waltz to At Last.

Following the dance, Arthur said: “The big question, can you improve on perfection? The answer is ‘yes, you can!”

Brian said: “This Viennese waltz proves that even the best of things can get better with time.”

Loraine said: “Powerful performance, it amazes me how you guys perfected the already perfect Viennese waltz.”

Nina and Pasquale scored 30 from the judges.

-Singer Erica-Cody & Denys danced their charleston from When We’re Human (from The Princess and the Frog).

Brian said: “I enjoyed every single moment of that – a charleston masterclass”.

Loraine said: “It’s fun, quirky, really a lot of charleston we all love to see.”

Arthur said: “I know how much this performance meant to you because it was all about visibility. Excellent work.”

Erica and Denys scored 30 from the judges.

-Last up for judges’ choice was rugby star Jordan Conroy & Salome with their paso doble to Paint it Black.

After, Loraine said: “I don’t think I would ever tire of watching that. I feel this dance totally sums you up Jordan. Intense and a smouldering fire-like energy. A passion which gives softness.You nailed the spin as well. Outstanding.”

Arthur said: “We wanted you to turn the three 9’s into 10’s  We wanted you to work on the cape work and spins. You have to be so precise. Salome, I want to salute you on the choreography”.

Brian said: “The back flip –  the bit of hair I’ve got left….An absolute pleasure to watch.  If you can match that in your showdance, it’ll be one amazing performance.”

Jordan and Salome also scored 30 from the judges.

The final four then took to the floor for a second time with their showdances in a final bid to emerge victorious at the end of the evening and be crowned winners!

Ellen and Stephen’s showdance and their final time to take to the floor together was a contemporary ballroom set to The Shires I See Stars.

“The music was all about the stars and I see two stars in front of me here,” Loraine told them following the dance. “It was perfection“.

Ellen and Stephen scored 29 from the judges.

Nina’s name was in lights as she and Pasquale danced to If They Could See Me Now, earning them a standing ovation from the audience and judges alike. “Nina, it’s not just your friends who can see you now, it is the whole nation” Brian told her.

Nina and Pasquale scored 29 from the judges.

Staring off on top of a huge gold glitterball, Erica and Denys’ show dance was an emotion-filled performance to Sigma’s Glitterball.

“I wouldn’t be surprised after this if you are on Broadway“, Arthur told Erica afterwards.

Erica and Denys scored 28 from the judges.

Jordan and Salome were last but certainly not least with their high energy hip hop routine to Fire it Up. “The last dance of season five, but I think that could be the best dance of five seasons!“, Brian told them.

Jordan and Salome scored 30 from the judges.

While the votes were coming in, viewers were treated to a performance from special guest act, Becky Hill, with her single, Run, then the whole Class of 2022 on Dancing with the Stars reunited onstage to perform one last time, before the winners were crowned.

The Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast presented by Lottie Ryan is available on RTÉ.ie/podcasts, Spotify or Apple Podcasts. This year’s finalists will be interviewed on The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 tomorrow morning.

Dancing with the Stars is proudly sponsored by Muller Corner.