Daddy’s dancing: Paudie Moloney revealed as second contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

It’s murder on the dancefloor as The Traitors Ireland legend Paudie Moloney has been revealed as the second contestant on Dancing with the Stars this season! The hit series returns to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in January.

Paudie won over the country earlier this year on The Traitors Ireland with his typical Irish Dad forthrightness that struck a chord with viewers. Since the show, retired prison officer Paudie has become a national treasure, enjoying widespread popularity both in his native Limerick and across the country. He appeared on The Late Late Show alongside his son and fellow The Traitors Ireland contestant Andrew. He has also been cast as the Wizard in a Dublin Christmas panto Olly Goes to Oz.

Speaking about his involvement in Dancing with the Stars this season, Paudie said:
“I’m very excited about taking part in Dancing with the Stars and also a little apprehensive at the same time. I’m really looking forward to the challenge, but I’m afraid all the glitter, the fake tan, and the sequins are going to be very new to me so I don’t know what to make of any of that.

My close family are very excited about me doing it and they can’t wait to see the show. Some friends think I’m mad but are also excited for me. I know the grandkids will be delighted and mortified at the same time.

I really got lucky with my pro dancer – I can’t say the same for her but she has reassured me we’ll have a lot of fun while going through this great experience. As I was saying to my wife, Bernadette, it will be a whole new experience sober dancing – I’m normally only dancing at weddings now and, depending on the circumstances, the odd funeral. Bernadette and I have always been great fans of the show. We’ve watched all seasons so far, but I still couldn’t tell you the difference between a Quickstep and an American Smooth.”

Dancing with the Stars is hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox. Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz and glamour from January, the RTÉ series will see 12 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 Salsa, 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: Oti Mabuse, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne, and as well as the viewing public at home, with the winning couple claiming the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.   

Tune in for all the glitz and glam from Sunday January 4 on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

ENDS

For further information: Rayna Connery, RTÉ Senior Communications Lead
Kate Smyth, RTÉ Communications Lead