Dancing with the Stars will make TV history on Switch-Up Week this Saturday, with Brian Dowling and Kai Widdrington the first all-male dance pairing on the show - and Lottie Ryan taking to the floor with Emily Barker as the first all-female duo. 

Switch-Up Week sees the celebrity contestants changing professional dance partners for one week only, with the show also moving to Saturday evening at 6:35pm on RTÉ One because of General Election coverage on Sunday.

Presenter Dowling said he was honoured to be part of the first all-male couple on Dancing with the Stars.

"This is about visibility and starting a conversation," he said. "Myself and Kai can now dance on the biggest entertainment show on Irish television; I think that is phenomenal. Someone always needs to be the first."  

"Someone always needs to be the first"

"It has taken a long time to get Ireland here and I'm chuffed that I can be part of that," Dowling continued. "This is celebrating the fact that two guys can dance together on national television.

"I will be emotional on the night. I'm an out gay man and I'm married, and this is really important to me."

"For a prime time family show to be so progressive and inclusive is an honour to be part of," agreed 2FM's Ryan. 

"To be given the chance to dance with any of the amazing pros is an incredible opportunity. Emily is someone who I've watched on my telly for years admiring, so I can't wait to share the floor with her."

Lottie Ryan - "For a prime time family show to be so progressive and inclusive is an honour to be part of"

The line-up for Switch-Up Week is:

Aidan Fogarty and Kylee Vincent dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha to Sigala's Feels Like Home 

Ryan Andrews and Laura Nolan dancing the Waltz to Journey's Open Arms

Fr Ray Kelly and Giulia Dotta dancing the Charleston to The Divine Comedy's National Express 

Mary Kennedy and Ryan McShane dancing the Jive to Twistin' the Night Away

Gráinne Gallanagh and Pasquale La Rocca dancing the Rumba to Ed Sheeran ft Khalid's Beautiful People 

Sinéad O'Carroll and John Nolan dancing the Viennese Waltz to Paloma Faith's Guilty

Lottie Ryan and Emily Barker dancing the Charleston to Meghan Trainor's Woman Up 

Brian Dowling and Kai Widdrington dancing the Quickstep to Take That's Out of Our Heads

Dancing with the Stars, Saturday, RTÉ One, 6:35pm

Click here for more television news.

Catch up with Dancing with the Stars on the RTÉ Player.