Forget those January Blues because this Sunday the sequins have been shone, the dancing shoes dusted off and the fake tan lorry back in as Dancing with the Stars Ireland returns at 6.30pm on RTÉ One for a two hour opening show.
The series will run for 12 weeks, wrapping up on Sunday March 24th with the last of the eleven contestants hoping to follow in the footsteps of Aidan O'Mahony and Jake Carter to lift the glitter ball trophy.
One of the dance floor warriors is TV presenter, and former Today FM producer, our buddy, the wonderful Mairead Ronan.
Fake tan ✅
Sparkly short dress ✅
Dance moves 😳 ... not yet
Looking forward to getting stuck into rehearsals the week 🤪 @DWTSIRL pic.twitter.com/TS0rpZ7Sfj— Mairead Ronan (@cocomairead) December 2, 2018
Mairead has bounced back after the birth of her third child Bonnie (so feckin cute btw) in August, and although that was only four months ago, she's giving this everything she's got.
Speaking on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Ronan reveals how she's not the only one giving it socks, telling us how "everyone can move".
When asked about comedian Fred Cooke, the 38-year-old reckons "he's got a few tricks up his sleeve".
But the person who has impressed her the most is her new BFF, actor Clelia Murphy, who played the unlucky-in-love Niamh Brennan in Fair City. Clelia may dumbing down her ability but Mairead feels she's a dark horse saying, "her first dance is going to blow everyone away".
Seeing as Iano knows Mrs Ronan for years, he's convinced her determination will power her through, but she's not too sure, giggling away as she says, "the only dancing I've done is usually with a bit of Pinot Grigio on board at a Christmas party". That's a good enough credential surely!?
They also have a good laugh about fellow dancer Peter Stringer's analogy of what performing on the show is actually like.
There will be no elimination for the first two weeks, as the male celebs do their thang this Sat with the ladies going solo Sunday week, but the first show will contain a group dance routine, described as "a big, big opening number".
Then from week three one celebrity and their dance partner will be ditched each week after the judges’ and public’s votes are counted.
If you cannot wait until Sunday, check out Can’t Stop Dancing, the preview show hosted by Bláthnaid Treacy, which airs at 8:30pm on RTÉ One this evening. It's your one-stop shop for all DWTS goss and will give you some insight into how the celebs have got on so far.
We're with you every step of the way Mairead and with all those FARO products at hand, regardless of how it goes, at least we know your hair is going to be on point!
Catch the chat in full by pressing the play button in the image at the top of the page.
