Despite being the first to face elimination on this year’s Dancing With the Stars, actor Rory Cowan has no regrets about participating in the show.
He was talking to Jennifer Zamparelli on RTÉ 2fm this Monday morning about his early exit and his time on the dance floor. He told her: "I loved every minute".
Jennifer was keen to point out that, although Rory’s departure came after just three episodes, he was involved in Dancing With the Stars for quite a while as preparations start well ahead of its launch on RTÉ One. "It kicks off in November," she said to him.
"It does," he acknowledged. "And then there’s five hours dancing a day. And me with no background in dancing, that’s a lot. That’s an awful lot. And it wears your body down.
"So I went home last night after the show and I’d a bottle of wine. And I just relaxed. Ahhh! It was lovely! There’s nothing left there now."
Jennifer then noted that DWTS judge Brian Redmond gave him a bit of a hard time when offering his opinion on his dancing ability. As she recalled, Brian compared him to "a cheap cocktail".
Rory took it in his stride, saying: "All I can say about Brian is . . . before the opening number, Brian walked up and down the dance floor stroking a cat, Loraine was carried onto the stage, and Arthur walked backwards, shaking his fabulous mane of hair.
Laughing, he adds: "And then he gave out to me for dancing!"
"I like Brian a lot. I really do."
On the other hand, Rory’s dancing partner Jillian Bromwich – who was with him in studio with Jennifer - was full of compliments for his dancing
"I’m very proud of Rory for what he’s accomplished. You should have seen him on the first day. He came in to me and he was like, ‘I’m not doing that! I’m not doing this! I can’t do that!’
"Look how far you’ve come!"
And it was a point not lost to Rory. "That is what I love about that show. I’ve always wanted to do it and they’ve asked me for years, but I couldn’t for one reason or another. But this year I said, right, I’m going for it.
"And it is a fabulous experience because it does show you what you can’t do, but it does show that if you put your mind to doing something, that you can.
"It’s a terrific show. Last night I said, ‘If you’re a celebrity and you’re asked to do this show, just do it. It's a fabulous experience. Just don’t think about it. Do it. You will find out things about yourself, and you will push yourself, and you will have the best time."
Jennifer then wondered about the outfits Roey wore during his three-week stint on the TV show.
"I loved them," he said. "And the wardrobe department there are amazing. I was stitched into everything. Everything! It must look perfect for the show. And getting out of them, they had to snip everywhere. They make miracles there."
Rory was then asked if he’d be interested in viewing the show now that he’s no longer involved in Dancing With the Stars. "Of course I will," he insisted. "I watch it every year. I’m a fan of the show. I’ll definitely watch it."
Although he wouldn’t reveal which of the celebs he’s rooting for, he did give a special mention to Eileen Dunne. "Eileen’s dance last night! When I saw that in rehearsals last Friday, I’d tears. And I’ve a heart like a swinging brick.
"It was a beautiful dance," he added. "The standard this year is higher than ever. And I loved every minute of it."
Dancing With the Stars, 6.30pm Sundays on RTÉ One and streaming on RTÉ Player
