Bláthnaid Treacy, presenter of Dancing with The Stars preview show Can't Stop Dancing, says that Marty Morrissey has already proved that he's got rhythm and may well emerge as a "dark horse" on the popular dancing competition.
The sports presenter may be better known for reporting from the sidelines at Croke Park but after his initial twirls on the DWTS dance floor in Ardmore Studios in Bray, Bláthnaid already has the Clare man tipped as one to watch.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment ahead of the first edition of Can't Stop Dancing, she said: "I think people have been comparing Marty to Des Cahill a bit because they’re of a similar age and maybe a similar body type.
"Obviously the nation fell in love with Des on last year's show and I think everybody adores Marty. I think he’s in with a really good chance.
"He’s an absolute gent, he’s got a great personality and he can actually dance, he’s got really good dance moves. He’s got rhythm, I think from back in the day when he was rocking into all the discos and I think he’ll be well able to lift his dance partner over his head so I can’t wait to see him dance on the show. He’s got some serious dance moves and he’s going to be a dark horse."
Dancing With The Stars is BACK, but who's dancing with WHO?
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All will be revealed on Can't Stop Dancing Thursday at 9.30pm! @AnnaGCork, @AlannahBeirne, @boshea5, @DeirdreOKane1, @GregorErin, @jakecartermusic, @MaiaDunphy, @MartyM_RTE, @NorahCasey, @RM_Heffernan & @Tomas_OLeary! pic.twitter.com/gM2l1VKya2
Blaithnaid also singles out Erin McGregor, sister of MMA champ Conor McGregor as worth keeping an eye on when the competition begins this Sunday on RTÉ One.
"She has that fighting spirit like her brother. She’s fierce but she’s also a little bit of a softie wrapped up in this fierce facade. She’s ready to fight, I think she’s going to do very well. Deirdre O’Kane is amazing, absolutely adore her . . . but I don’t know! I have no idea who will win."
"Marty's got rhythm I think from back in the day when he was rocking into all the discos and I think he’ll be well able to lift his dance partner over his head" - Bláthnaid Treacy
Former child actress (she appeared on RTÉ soap Glenroe for 13 years) and TV host Bláthnaid has been getting to know this year’s crop of dancing celebs over the past month or so and on Thursday night's opening edition of Can't Stop Dancing she'll be revealing their professional dance partners.
Along with Marty and Erin, Norah Casey, rugby star Tomás O’Leary, Cork Rose of Tralee entrant Anna Geary, newly-crowned Athlete of the Year Rob Heffernan, and Nathan Carter’s brother Jake Carter will also be hot stepping it into our living rooms from Sunday.
💃🕺 3 days to go! 💃🕺
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Dancing With The Stars starts this Sunday at 6.30pm! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/WzZEwh3q91
Model Aoife Walsh had to retire from the show after she broke her toe during rehearsals and she’s been replaced by fellow model Alannah Beirne. They all join comedian Deirdre O'Kane, 2FM and Bridget & Eamonn star Bernard O'Shea and author and TV presenter Maia Dunphy for the second series of the glitter-filled show.
"I had the pleasure of meeting them all on their first day on set last November and oh my word! Their eyes were literally wide open, I don’t think any of them blinked for about two hours," Bláthnaid says.
"There were just shocked faces looking around, glitter everywhere, the sets are incredible and this was the very first day and they had to shoot their little ident pieces at the beginning and do their little shimmy and that’s a really awkward thing to do because none of them had any dance experience at this point and it was a really, really cold morning in November.
"It’s like the first day of school. Everyone’s really nervous."
"It’s like the first day of school. Everyone’s really nervous, they’re shy and they’re starting to get to know each other and they have to dance on camera, it’s really awkward and really nerve-wracking and I had the pleasure of witnessing that so that was interesting. I think they started bonding when it occurred to them what they had let themselves in for."
Des Cahill really set the standard for glamour last year so from what’s she’s seen so far, how does she rate the bling thing? "The bar has been raised on everything," she says. "There’s truck loads of glitter being brought in. I was down on the set on Tuesday night and it’s really coming together and there is a really exciting atmosphere."
Can’t Stop Dancing is also going all out this year. It’s now doubled in duration and it will feature a live audience for the first time. "From episode two of Can’t Stop there will be a live audience who’ll be giving me feedback on DWTS," Bláthnaid says.
"I’ve done live television but never with a live studio audience so that will be interesting so I’ll try not to make a fool of myself in front of them and the nation. This time last year, I was nervous and excited; this year, I’m just excited."
"There’s truck loads of glitter being brought in. I was down on the set on Tuesday night and it’s really coming together and there is a really exciting atmosphere."
Bláthnaid herself is happy that she is the presenter of Can’t Stop Dancing because it means she can’t take part in the actual competition herself. "Exactly! I’m thrilled. It means I get to be part of the whole thing from beginning to end, I get to watch everybody else’s’ journeys and get to have fun. I think I have the best job but hey! I can bust a dance move at 1.00am in a club but nothing too serious!"
Right now, as the contestants limber up and get to know their dancing partners and the rivals in Ardmore before the dance-offs begin this Sunday, they’re just worried that they’ll slip on that big, shiny dance floor.
"They’re concentrating on just keeping their feet on the ground at the moment," says Bláthnaid. "But as the show progresses, the rivalry starts."
Can’t Stop Dancing, the preview show for Dancing with the Stars hosted by Bláthnaid Treacy, is back on Thursday, January 4 at 9.30pm on RTÉ2.
Dancing With The Stars begins on Sunday, January 7 at 6.30pm on RTÉ One.
