From stand-up to Foxtrot: Comedian Michael Fry revealed as fourth contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

It’s out of the frying pan and into the sequins for comedian and actor Michael Fry as he joins the Dancing with the Stars line-up for the new season, set to hit screens in January on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Hailing from Navan, Co. Meath, Michael has appeared in Derry Girls and Holding (the television adaptation of Graham Norton’s novel), and in 2025 he wrote and performed his first stand-up show as part of the Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe Festivals.

Michael is also well-known for his viral sketches and musical parodies on social media, and for writing and appearing in the RTÉ2 sketch show No Worries If Not! He was an ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge in 2025 and has previously written and performed sketches and standup as Gaeilge.

Speaking about joining Dancing with the Stars this year, Michael said: 

“I’m very excited to be learning how to dance in a way that doesn’t suggest I’m utterly ashamed of myself. It’ll come with transferable skills in that being more aware of my body is only going to make me a better performer. Michelle Yeoh started out as a dancer and ended up doing cool fight scenes and action movies. It could be me in the next Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Other than at weddings, I’ve got zero dance experience as an adult, but I did Irish dancing and stage school when I was a child. I won a trophy for Irish dancing and it’s the only trophy I own. Maybe I’m only good at dancing if I don’t have to use my arms…

My friends have all been extremely supportive of me taking part in the show and are keen to come see me live in the audience. They’re all very jealous that I get to learn how to dance with a professional and would have been furious if I had turned it down.

I am nervous about such a physical challenge because I’m extremely unfit. I’ve treated my body badly over the years and we’re about to find out just how badly. I’m hoping there’s an artful way to bend over with a stitch mid-routine.”

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.

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