Ireland AM host Eric Roberts has been revealed as the sixth contestant for the ninth series of Dancing with the Stars, which returns to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in January 2026.
The Donegal native first gained widespread attention through his social media presence, particularly on TikTok and Instagram, where he has over 1 million followers.
Earlier this year, he launched his debut children’s book Gary the Stinky Goose, which was inspired by Eric’s years as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in Donegal, and by his nephew Oisín who has cerebral palsy and autism.
Speaking about joining the show, Roberts said:"I’m so excited to get stuck into training and equally terrified at what lies ahead! I’ve been a fan of the show for years and some of my friends have taken part and told me how amazing the experience is and also how difficult it can be!."
He added: "So, I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for it all. I’ve had a couple of fittings and let’s just say it’s stuff I wouldn’t normally wear, but I’m leaving it up to the professionals and stylist every week – I'm up for anything (within reason)."
Roberts said his family "were so excited" when he shared the news but admits it's "a huge time commitment" - especially with a young son at home.
"My wife is extremely supportive and told me to go for it! I’m excited to learn all the dances," he explained. "I grew up loving hip hop and robotics. I taught myself how to do hip hop in my bedroom after watching Step Up – just in case anyone challenged me to a dance battle – and I loved it so much."
He continued: "I haven’t broken out those moves now in a while so it might be time to bring them back. I’m so happy to be taking part this year! It’s so surreal to me and I don’t think it will actually hit home until the show is kicking off, but hopefully I’ll be up for the challenge."
The next three celebrity dancers will be revealed on The Late Late Show tonight on RTÉ One.
