Ahead of Sunday's Dancing With the Stars, Fair City star Shane Quigley Murphy and pro dancer Laura Nolan talk about their experiences so far.
It’s week two of the latest Dancing With the Stars contest and the 11 celebrities are beginning to discover what it’s all about.
Once the shows begin and the focus shifts to performing a weekly dance routine, everything is out in the open. You’re preparing and performing in front of the nation. There's simply nowhere to hide!
Well, that's how it seems in my head anyway.
This Sunday Fair City star Shane Quigley Murphy and pro dancer Laura Nolan will be dancing a waltz to At This Moment by Michael Bublé. More on that in a moment, first up: pressure.
As the contest heats up, it can become quite challenging for those involved. As Laura points out, part of her job is to make sure that her dance partner is as stress-free as possible, so they have a better chance of putting in a performance in front of the cameras.
"I would never put pressure on Shane," she insists. "I think you have to take it week-by-week. Every single week is different, and every single person’s journey in this competition is different.
"The only thing I’d say to Shane would be to give his best every week to that dance. Once he does that I’m absolutely delighted!"
Shane’s got his own thing going on anyway, though he appreciates Laura’s approach.
"Coming from a performance background, I have standards that I expect from myself," says the soap star, who plays Carrigstown’s Gareth Boyle.
"Laura’s brilliant at bringing me back down to earth if ever I do get a bit overwhelmed. She brings me back down, explains things in a really clear and concise way.
"I have a high standard, but that’s just me wanting to do the best for me, it’s never a case of Laura putting pressure on. If anything, I put more pressure on myself.
"But it’s an enjoyable process," he adds, not wanting to sound too serious about it all. "At the end of the day, it’s not about the glitterball. It’s about enjoying each week, each new dance, each new learning experience, each minute in the rehearsal room, and in studio. They’re the real big winning parts of it."
Shane is currently double-jobbing, what with his day-to-day on Fair City as well as the stint on Dancing With the Stars. Time is his biggest rival these days.
Chances are that some day he’s going to get shows mixed up and do a dance across the floor of McCoy’s while thinking about his latest routine with Laura, but so far he’s been able to keep both shows on the go without walking under a bus.
"As you can see from the bags under my eyes, sleep is a commodity I’m running out of," he jokes, before asserting that "It’s doable." You can see this guy likes a challenge. "It’s an early start, I’m in for filming at about 7am and wrapped by about half six.
"Then it’s straight over to Liffey Trust and rehearse until – what do you say Laura? - until I start to go vacant behind my eyes. And then she goes: 'Right. Ready to go.’
"Friday for example I wasn’t filming so we utilised the time as best we could. But we’re rolling with the punches and making the most of time when we have it."
Talking of Fair City, the recent announcement that the much-loved RTÉ One soap would be losing an episode a week due to cutbacks in Montrose was greeted with dismay by its loyal fanbase.
Shane’s circumspect about the prospect of fewer episodes, and you can see that he’s a glass half-full kind of guy by his reaction to the news.
"It is a bit of a kick in the you-know-wheres for the fans," he says. "But with that, it’s not going to make too much of a difference for me. Our filming schedules will continue as usual, it’ll just be that we won’t be filming during July or August.
"If anything, it’s a slight blessing in disguise," he adds. "I’ll potentially have a bit of time off during the summer, but even though I absolutely adore Fair City, I’m always constantly looking for other acting work. That may be a voiceover, theatre, film and TV.
"It’s a bit annoying for the fans, but in the grand scheme of things I don’t think it’s going to be too much of an issue."
This week’s dance
Shane and Laura are dancing a waltz to At This Moment by Michael Bublé. Laura offers a lowdown.
Last week’s opening episode of Dancing With the Stars saw Shane and Laura Nolan perform a salsa in front of the studio audience as they danced to Where Did You Go? by Jax Jones & MNEK.
Afterwards, judge Loraine told them: "Wowser! Go big or go home! This is week one! The lifts were incredible - helicopter style. What's in the water tonight? Incredible!"
Arthur Gourounlian was also complimentary, particularly to Shane. "For someone's who's tall, you have rhythm, you know how to shake those hips," he told him.
Shane and Laura were then awarded 19 points by the judges. But what will this week’s show bring?
"We’re dancing a waltz and I’m really excited about it," says Laura. "I love our concept, our look - everything. I love ballroom and that’s my favourite style, it’s what I’m a world champion in.
"So, for me, I’m especially excited this week because I’ve never danced a waltz on the show before with my actual partner, in all the years I’ve been on Dancing With the Stars.
"Way back in my first season, we used to have switch-up week and I danced once-off with Ryan Andrews - who's, funnily enough, also from Fair City - and that’s the only waltz I’ve danced.
"This week is actually going so well, I’m really looking forward to dancing on Sunday’s show."
Dancing With The Stars continues at 6.30pm on Sunday RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
