Dancing with the Stars Fright Night Semi Final

Aishah Akorede and their pro dance partner Robert Rowiński became the next celebrity couple to bid farewell to the dance floor on Dancing with the Stars tonight, following their elimination from the semi-final. Tonight’s episode saw the dance floor transform into a spine-chilling spectacle full of electrifying performances for Fright Night!

Commenting on leaving the competition, Aishah said: “I genuinely thought I’d be out first, so to have made it to the semi final, it means the world. I want to use this moment to acknowledge and raise awareness for sickle cell. I’m really proud to have come this far. I hope people can look at my journey in this show and know that no matter what you’re going through, you can pick yourself up and keep going every single day.”

Aishah’s pro partner Robert Rowiński said: “A beautiful person, inside and outside. The world is yours.”

Aishah and Robert will speak to Laura Fox on 2FM at 9.30am tomorrow morning for their first broadcast interview following their exit from the show.

The two celebrities who found themselves in the dreaded dance off were Aishah Akorede and Jack Woolley.

First up on the dancefloor tonight was former Miss Universe Ireland Aishah Akorede and her professional partner Robert Rowiński. They cast a spell on the audience with their bewitching Foxtrot to Black Magic by Little Mix.

Judge Loraine Barry said: “Gorgeous proper foxtrot for me, rolling through the feet… it lost a little bit of fluidity sometimes but for a difficult dance you did it beautifully!”

Judge Arthur Gourounlian said: “Absolutely stunning. Despite being three times in the dance off, you still continue to rise through with the unstoppable resilience and passion that you have, and that to me is the spirit of a fighter. Tonight, you sprinkled a magic potion on the dancefloor with grace and elegance!”

Judge Karen Byrne said: “You’re such a glamorous witch. You can see you’re growing so much in confidence. What a way to open Fright Night!”

Aishah and Robert scored a total of 35 points. 
Next up, social media star Kayleigh Trappe and her partner Ervinas Merfeldas danced a  Tango to Hot to Go by Chappell Roan.

Arthur said: “That was devilish and delicious! A tango is about movement – you have to have vision, control and seduction. And tonight that was one hell of a tango.”

Judge Brian Redmond said: “Overall, in terms of what we want from Tango for Fright Night, everything was there. Definitely as far as the final goes, you’ve got a chance and I think that tango was Hot to Tango!”

Karen said: “You came out and you attacked it. Your confidence has grown week- on-week. Go you, I loved it!”

Loraine said: “You put in that fire, that fierce energy. I loved the tango steps in it, it was very traditional. For me it was more like dancing with the devils!”

Kayleigh and Ervinas scored a total of 35 points. 
Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and his partner Laura Nolan danced a vampire-inspired Paso Doble to O Fortuna by Hidden Citizens.

Brian said: “Exceptional. A few weeks ago I criticised your arms and said sometimes they’re as stiff as a witch’s broomstick. Finished off with a flip, just for a bit of a show off!”

Karen said: “That dance was one of the best dances I’ve ever seen of all of the million years I’ve been on this show. Holy mother of moly! That leap you did – most pros can’t do it. It was unbelievable.”

Loraine said: “A theatrical paso doble… it was spot on. It was bold, dramatic, the power in the body. You absolutely commanded this room, and everyone’s attention.”

Arthur said: “You weren’t just doing the paso doble, you were living it and breathing it. It was spine chilling. J’adore!”

Rhys and Laura scored a total of 40 points. 

Next up, Mrs. Brown’s Boys actor Danny O’Carroll and his pro dancer Salome Chachua slithered onto the dance floor with a snake-themed Tango to Poison by Alice Cooper.

Karen said: “From your first step you gave me chills. From last week to this week, you came out fighting. All I can say is, you are fighting like a mad thing to get into this final!”

Loraine said: “To capture the atmosphere of a tango, you have to get into position… For me it was very clear you had the tango taps in there … You gave it your all, you went for it tonight.”

Arthur said: “I was engrossed in this number. This was like a snake, smooth yet dangerous. Your posture, frame was impeccable. It was intoxicating and mesmerising.” 

Brian said: “A fabulous way to fight for a place in the final.”

Danny and Salome scored a total of 35 points. 

Finally, Taekwondo athlete Jack Woolley and his pro partner Alex Vladimirov danced an otherworldly, alien-inspired Salsa to Red Alert by Basement Jaxx.

Loraine said “Wow. What a production. You had this amazing interaction with each other. You amplified the highlights of the music with salsa action. It was one of those dance until you drop salsas.”

Arthur said: “You gave me Salsa from anther galaxy! Every move you did in this routine was electric and I loved it. If this is an alien invasion, beam me up!”

Brian said: “I think I’m going to send you to the local hospital to have you x-rayed, as you must not have  a bone in your body! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do a Salsa with that many lifts in it and still bring so much fun.”

Karen said: “I’ve never seen a salsa ever danced like that before. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time.”

Jack and Alex scored a total of 40 points. 

In addition to their individual performances, all five couples competed in the ‘Scare-athon’, dance marathon to Tenacious D’s version of The Time Warp, with Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan bagging extra points from the judges.

Tonight’s show also featured a special performance from Little Shop of Horrors, which will have its Irish premiere at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre this July. The Dancing with the Stars professional dancers took to the floor with some spooky grooves to songs from the musical, Little Shop of Horrors and Suddenly Seymour, with vocals by the stars of the new Irish production, West End star David O’Reilly and rising talent Jacqueline Bruton.

The glitz, glamour, and nail-biting competition will all unfold in next week’s final of Dancing with the Stars on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player next Sunday, March 16th at 6.30pm.

-ENDS- 

Date: Sunday March 9th 2025

Photography credit: Kyran O’Brien

RTÉ Communications: Rayna Connery and Éadaoin Nic Giolla Chomhaill

Notes to Editor: 

ABOUT DANCING WITH THE STARS 2025

Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz and glamour from January, the RTÉ One series sees 11 well-known figures team up with a professional dancer to perform a live routine every week.

Each pairing will have a different dancing genre to master every week, from the Charleston to hip hop, and they’ll have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing live to the nation.

Each celebrity couple will be scored by an expert panel of four judges and the viewing public at home, with the winning couple claiming the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

Dancing with the Stars is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ.

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