Davy Russell is having the time of his life on Dancing with the Stars - and his family are having just as much fun getting behind him.
The legendary Grand National and Cheltenham Cup-winning jockey has been gathering momentum on the show this season, along with his professional dance partner, Kylee Vincent.
Meanwhile, back home in Youghal, Davy's other half Edelle and their four children - Lily, Finn, Liam and Tess - are cheering dad on and enjoying every minute of his time on TV's ultimate dance contest.
With rehearsals up in Dublin and the shows filmed in Bray, Davy's away a lot of the time, but it's far from having a detrimental effect on family life, or their support of dad's latest adventure.
"Edelle's used to it, because there was a lot of dedication to horse racing," Davy explains, before noting that his other half was very keen to see him compete. "She was the one who kind of pushed me on to do it." Laughing, he adds: "She kind of has to suffer the consequences.
"She's very supportive though," he insists. "She actually loves the show itself." And that enthusiasm is clearly rubbing off on their children, as Davy explains. "I think the real beauty of it all are the kids. I’ve never seen them so excited. And I’ve never seen them have so much to do. It’s helping them in so many different ways.
"Every weekend they’re making posters. They’re doing their art. The other night Edel was away and I was at home on my own, and we weren’t allowed to go to bed until they did their own routine, their own dances. It was fantastic.
"They love it," he adds. "They really love it, and they put in so much effort. It’s great craic. And they’re all interacting with each other because they’re all involved in the whole process."
And why wouldn't they be loving it? Last week Davy and partner Kylee managed to top the leaderboard with the most public votes and therefore will not be facing elimination this week.
Davy and Kylee, you might recall, last week performed contemporary ballroom to Roar by Katy Perry in dedication of Davy's wife, Edelle. With immunity this week as a result, does that alter his outlook on this Sunday's performance?
"It kind of doesn’t change anything for me," Davy insists. "This week I’m doing a very difficult dance and it’s a total opposite to the order dances that I’ve done, so I’m finding it quite awkward to get into positions . . . there’s a lot of work involved.
"It always is frustrating at the start of the week, but as of today [Friday] it’s starting to look like normal."
As everyone who's ever competed on Dancing with the Stars will freely admit, it's a far from glitzy and glamorous experience - outside of those two hours on TV every Sunday evening. It's really hard work, and facing a lengthy commute from Youghal only adds to the time pressure for Davy.
But Davy Russell's lapping it all up, in the knowledge that he's got 100% support at home, even if dad is away for so much of the week getting in preparation for Sunday's showtime.
"I suppose we’re kind of used to it, because my career meant there were days away and days at home; hours away and hours at home," he says. "So it’s nothing that I’m not used to, if you know what I mean?
"I’m used to it. I also enjoying driving, when I’m in the car on my own.
"So that doesn’t feel like and effort to me. There are plenty of hours in the day and we’re just trying to fill them, I suppose. And I’m happiest when I’m busy and I’ve somewhere to go.
"When I was younger I used to love bouncing from different places, from yard to yard, to try and get on different kinds of horses. This is kind of the same - I bounce around between rehearsals and home, feeding horses and riding horses, and then getting back up to Dublin.
Smiling, he adds: "I suppose, if you were stuck in the yard all day, it can get a bit monotonous."
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays at 6.30pm, RTÉ One
