Dancing with the Stars' new professional dancers Jillian Bromwich and Montel Hewson have said they "do everything together" as they spoke about joining the latest series of the glitteriest show on television.
Speaking to Jennifer Zamparelli on 2FM on Monday, 21-year-old Jillian and 22-year-old Montel, who are Irish Under 21 World Champions, spoke about their delight at signing onto the show.
Jillian, who has been paired with Mrs Brown's Boys star Rory Cowan, said: "It's amazing, it's completely different to what we're used to, it's a completely different world.
"When we first came we were expecting people to be strange and competitive with us but it wasn't like that at all, everyone was so lovely and welcoming."
Montel has been dancing since he was just two-years-old while Jillian took up dancing aged 6. The couple, who have been together for five years, met as kids when they were in the same dance school.
Jillian shared: "We were in the same dance school, we used to go every Saturday, I was nine, he was 10.
"We met through there and I was terrified of him because he was one of the cool kids, and I never made the cut for the group!"
They started dating when Jillian was 16 and Montel had just turned 17 and have been going strong ever since.
Jillian said that being a couple off-screen is a bonus for them as they begin their Dancing with the Stars journey.
"I think it's actually easier because the support that we have for each other is very important, when we have good days, bad days, we're always there for each other," she said.
Montel, whose partner is TikTok sensation Miriam Mullins, added: "We do everything together, we compete together, we travel together, we work together."
Appearing on the show is very different to their day jobs, and their approach to teaching their celebrity partners reflects that. Jillian said: "You have to have patience, I suppose, but you just have to enjoy it.
"It's very different to teaching someone who is a dancer, who wants to make a living from it. You just have fun with your celebrity on the show."
Montel said of his partner Miriam Mullins: "She comes in so excited, she's so excited, and I'm like that as well. She runs around doing cartwheels, flying across the room and she's like 'what's next?' But there's a problem with that as well.
"When you're always like 'what's next', you have to reign it in and have patience, and do the same step over and over again, which can become boring. But she does do it so it's working really well."
Jillian added of Rory Cowan: "I think Rory's an open book to be fair, he says everything he feels. I think the nerves got him the first week to be honest. I was just happy that he enjoyed himself. He's a good man and he's trying his best and that's all I can ask for."
Dancing with the Stars continues on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday, 21 January at 6:30pm when the first elimination will take place.
