Actor and comedian Eilish O'Carroll and style entrepreneur Darren Kennedy are the latest contestants to join the new series of RTÉ One's hit show Dancing with the Stars.

After much speculation, it was confirmed live on The Ryan Tubridy Show on Radio 1 on Monday that Eilish and Darren are set to hit the dance floor this coming January.

Speaking about taking part in Dancing with the Stars this year, Eilish said: "I’m so excited to be doing Dancing with the Stars.

"It’s like a dream come true. I feel like a kid and all my Christmas’s have come at one. I can’t wait to get started!"

Actor and comedian Eilish O'Carroll is ready to her dancing shoes on

Darren added: "I’m excited, petrified, terrified– I don’t know what I’ve got myself in for.

"It’s completely out of my comfort zone but ultimately I’m looking forward to it. I’ve zero dance experience.

"If I could write a letter to my younger self I would say ‘Stick with Billie Barry someday you’re going to be thankful".

Darren Kennedy is set for Dancing with the Stars

On Sunday, TV presenter Mairéad Ronan was announced as the first star to don her dancing shoes in the New Year.

Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne will present the new series of Dancing with the Stars. Airing on RTÉ One for 12 weeks from Sunday 6th January, a total of 11 celebrities will pair up with their professional dancing partners as they step out of their comfort zones and onto the dancefloor, each hoping to claim the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

Also returning this year is our expert panel of judges Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Julian Benson. 

Can’t Stop Dancing, the preview show for Dancing with the Stars hosted by Bláthnaid Treacy will also return on Friday, January 4 on RTÉ One to go behind the scenes to capture all the glitz, glamour and gossip back stage and get the low down from the judges, the professional dancers and the stars.

The two-hour show will be broadcast from Sunday, January 6th until March 24th 2018.