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Glenda and Robert depart Dancing with the Stars

Updated / Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 22:20
A sad ending to Movie Week for Glenda Gilson and Robert Rowiński All photos: Kyran O'Brien
A sad ending to Movie Week for Glenda Gilson and Robert Rowiński All photos: Kyran O'Brien

Presenter Glenda Gilson and professional partner Robert Rowiński have become the second couple to be eliminated on Dancing with the Stars Ireland on RTÉ One.

On the night they scored 18 for their Contemporary Ballroom performance but did not receive enough public votes to stay in the competition.

The Virgin Media presenter described her time on the show as "fantastic". 

The moment of truth

"I met some of the best people ever," she continued. "And this fabulous guy, he deserves a medal for teaching me how to dance."

2FM's Lottie Ryan and professional dance partner Pasquale La Rocca and Fair City star Ryan Andrews and dance partner Giulia Dotta shared top spot on the leaderboard with 28 points each.

At the bottom were Fr Ray Kelly and dance partner Kylee Vincent with nine points.

Dancing with the Stars continues next Sunday on RTÉ One at 6:30pm.

Here's what happened during the Movie Week performances:

Ryan Andrews and Giulia Dotta

The final dance of the night saw Ryan Andrews and Giulia Dotta dancing the Jive to Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting from Rocketman.

Ryan Andrews and Giulia Dotta

Judge Loraine Barry said it was "a tremendous Jive". "The skill level here was off the charts," she added.

Her colleague Julian Benson said the routine was "explosive". He hailed "the connection, the power and the punch" in "an award-winning performance".

Fellow judge Brian Redmond said the one "very big thing wrong with the performance" was that it was "the wrong night of the week". He called it "a very good Jive".

Ryan and Giulia scored 28 points, including a '10' from Loraine - the second ten of the series.

Fr Ray Kelly and Kylee Vincent

Fr Ray Kelly and Kylee Vincent danced the Paso Doble to the theme from The Magnificent Seven.

Fr Ray Kelly and Kylee Vincent

Brian said it was "more The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" - and Kylee was the good!

Loraine said Kylee was "magnificent" and "filled out all the gaps" in the performance.

Julian called it "the newest take on Paso I've seen in a long time". He said it looked like Fr Ray was "shuffling buffaloes at one stage" but saluted the fun he brings to the show.

Fr Ray and Kylee scored nine points.

Aidan Fogarty and Emily Barker

Aidan Fogarty and Emily Barker danced the Tango to Into the Unknown from Frozen II.

Aidan Fogarty and Emily Barker

Julian said Aidan "brought the Disney magic". He praised Aidan's frame and presence. "I was very impressed with that performance," he concluded.

Brian said it needed "maybe a breath here or there" but that Aidan did not struggle with the Tango like a lot of male celebrity contestants on the show.

Loraine said she wasn't "normally lost for words, but this was just excellent".

Aidan and Emily scored 26 points.

Mary Kennedy and John Nolan

Mary Kennedy and John Nolan performed the American Smooth to He's a Tramp from Lady and the Tramp.

Mary Kennedy and John Nolan

Loraine said it was "so elegant, so beautiful".

Julian added: "Woof! Woof!" He described the lift in the routine as "beautiful".

Brian Redmond said Mary "didn't make a dog's dinner of it". He said her frame and posture have improved. He told Mary she needs to relax more but is "definitely going in the right direction".

Mary and John scored 19 points.

Lottie Ryan and Pasquale La Rocca

Lottie Ryan and Pasquale La Rocca danced the Salsa to the theme from the movie Dora and the Lost City of Gold.

Lottie Ryan and Pasquale La Rocca

Brian loved the storytelling through the "phenomenal" choreography. "The lifts were just class," he continued.

Loraine said it was a "fantastic Salsa" from beginning to end but wanted "a little breath inside" the routine also.

Julian called it "a box office gold Salsa". "This was everything we looked for in a Salsa and more," he told the couple.

Lottie and Pasquale scored 28 points, including the first '10' of the series, courtesy of Julian.

Sinéad O'Carroll and Ryan McShane

Sinéad O'Carroll and Ryan McShane danced the Quickstep to Get Happy from the movie Judy.

Sinéad O'Carroll and Ryan McShane

Julian roared with delight after the performance. "Girl, you did not disappoint me!" he enthused. He hailed the "fantastic choreography" and "lovely syncopation". "You are Hollywood," he said, while asking for "a little more flow".

Brian said it was "very, very good". He drew attention to gapping in the second half of the dance but added that for once he was happy!

Loraine Barry said it "screamed Broadway".

Sinéad and Ryan scored 24 points.

Michael Carruth and Karen Byrne

Michael Carruth and Karen Byrne danced the Paso Doble to Eye of the Tiger from Rocky III.

Michael Carruth and Karen Byrne

Loraine congratulated Michael on making progress and Karen's "excellent recovery" from a slip. 

Julian said it was a "power-punching Paso". He said he wanted more shaping in the Paso but urged them to "keep up the good work".

Brian said it was a "Paso of a pussycat in places" and agreed with his colleagues about the need for clearer body-shaping. "But you are improving," he told Michael, "because you got most of the steps right."

Michael and Karen received 14 points.

Gráinne Gallanagh and Kai Widdrington

Gráinne Gallanagh and Kai Widdrington danced the Salsa to (I've Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing - complete with lift and extra dancers.

Gráinne Gallanagh and Kai Widdrington

Brian said Kai was "some man for one man" because "it took three of the lads to replace you" after sustaining a shoulder injury in training. He wanted Gráinne to pay attention to her timing but also said "every girl in the country is jealous of you tonight".

Loraine said it was "so beautiful" and commended Kai for dancing through injury.

It was "one hot Swayze salsa" for Julian Benson. He saluted them to sticking to the choreography from the original film.

Gráinne and Kai received a score of 21.

Glenda Gilson and Robert Rowiński

Glenda Gilson and Robert Rowiński danced Contemporary Ballroom to My Heart Will Go On from Titanic.

Glenda Gilson and Robert Rowiński

Julian said it was "a beautiful, emotionally charged Contemporary Ballroom". "I felt I was on the Titanic - I was there with Jack and Rose," he added.

Brian said the couple hit "one little iceberg" after the first lift. The dance is called 'Contemporary Ballroom'; there wasn't enough ballroom in it," he added.

Loraine said it was "a great dance" for Glenda. She agreed with Brian that it could have had "a little more ballroom", but said "overall, it was exquisite".

Glenda and Robert scored 18.

Brian Dowling and Laura Nolan

First up were Brian Dowling and Laura Nolan dancing the Charleston to Fat Sam's Grand Slam from Bugsy Malone.

Brian Dowling and Laura Nolan

Loraine said: "I thought the storyline was superb and you played it to perfection." She loved the lifts but said eight bars of Charleston were "not enough".

It was "fun, cheeky and entertaining" for Julian - but he wanted more swivels.

Brian agreed with his colleagues about the Charleston content. He told Brian it was "probably your best performance to date".

Brian and Laura also received a score of 18.

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