Matthew MacNabb has said that taking part in Dancing With The Stars has been "100%" tougher than competing in ITV reality show Love Island.
The 26-year-old Co. Down man has been sweating it out on the dancefloor with his pro-dance partner - and possible girlfriend - Laura Nolan for the past two months and it's certainly been harder work than lounging about looking pretty in swimming trunks on Love Island.
"This is 100% harder. I never considered Love Island a competition. It is more of an experience, and this is more of a competition and experience combined in one. If I go all the way and win, I’ll be the first northerner to win and put Co. Down on the map.
"But I didn’t think DWTS would take over entire life. I always say I’m grateful because my life always turns out better when I say yes to opportunities, and I feel I’ve grown a lot as a person, and I’ve had some amazing experiences."
He describes the support from viewers and his friends back home in Down as "unreal".
"I think a lot of people have connected with the fact that I’ve had no dance experience whatsoever and they kind of respect the fact that I’ve said yes to the opportunity and thrown myself headfirst into it," Matthew says.
"People can see that. The support up north has been great and the community aspect of Dancing With The Stars has been really good and that’s something I didn’t get as much with Love Island because that show is so massive and it’s a different kind of feel."
His former Love Island friends have been in touch to offer support. "They have, especially when I got into the semi-final so it would be nice to get a couple of them over if I got into the final." Matthew says.
He sashays (manfully) out of his comfort zone on this Sunday’s DWTS semi-final when he and Laura take a Latino turn to a Justin Bieber song.
"I’ve never been that good at the expressive Latin dances," he says. "And this is a good opportunity to show how much I’ve grown throughout the journey.
"I’m no expert but it’s amazing what you can learn when you’re completely 24/7 doing something for months. I’d no clue about dancing at all before this so it’s really been an amazing education."
Asked what he is looking forward to once the show is over now it’s nearing the finale and he is one of the final five celebrity dancers, he said, "Getting back to the gym and getting back to the fitness routine based on body building but I’m also exited to do some dancing and incorporate some free movement exercise.
"It’s amazing - I’ve worked out muscles I’ve never worked out before with the twisting and turning. It’s like yoga. I’m also looking forward to travelling as well.
"The toughest part of doing the show was doing ten and seven-hour days, especially during jive week. I was doing ten-hour days all week and getting really negative results and feedback so that was really, really tough."
Dancing with the Stars continues on RTÉ One on Sunday at 6.30pm
