Elaine Crowley has said Dancing with the Stars "was probably one of the most difficult things I've done in my life" and admits last night's show was the "most nervous" she's been on live TV over twenty five years.
The journalist and TV presenter and her pro partner Denys Samson did a jive to You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray but they had the lowest number of votes on the night and found themselves being eliminated from the competition.
Watch: Elaine Crowley's final appearance on Dancing with the Stars
Speaking with press following her departure, Crowley said she's "really sad" to be leaving but insists "you have to put life into perspective".
"It was probably one of the most difficult things I've done in my life. I'm not going to lie - it was very, very challenging and very, very hard," she said.
"I'm banjaxed from it. My calves are rock hard and really sore. I could barely walk this morning, they were so sore," Crowley added.
The Ireland AM star said while she's sad to leave she understands the importance of being "realistic about how important some of these things are".
"Of course, I'm really sad to be out of it. I've a great bunch of friends and they're worse than I am about me leaving to be quite honest - Jack was bawling crying. I suppose I mind them a bit," she said. "We have a group with myself and Danny, Kevin and Mickey - and sure he's gone too - so God know who's going to be next."
She added: "You have to put life into a bit of perspective. Yes, it would be lovely to stay dancing but in the greater scheme of things it's a TV show. There's a lot of harder things happening in the world and I think you need to be a bit realistic about how important some of these things are."
Crowley said she took part in the competition to "cheer her family up".
"Yes, I got kicked out of Dancing with the Stars second which is a bit mortifying. But, on the other hand nothing serious happened, everyone is still alive, I'm still alive. My legs are still in place - just about. You just have to really put life in perspective," she said.
"I just wanted to cheer my family up, to be quite honest. That's the only single solitary reason. In fairness, I didn't do it for myself, put it that way!
"I did it for my family to give them a giggle," she added.
The presenter, who is best known for presenting Midday from 2010 to 2016 and Elaine from 2016 to 2021, said last night's show was nerve-wracking.
"It's not something I ever pursued or ever could have imagined myself doing. I was really looking forward to next week, so there is that disappointment. I feel like I've let my family and Denys down a bit but you know nobody died."
She added: "Tonight was the most nervous I've ever been on live TV - and I've been doing it for 25 years, so that says a lot!"
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays at 6.30pm, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
