Dancing with the Stars contestant Eric Roberts has told RTÉ Entertainment that he wants to stay on the show "until the bitter end".
The Ireland AM star and his professional dance partner, Arianna Favaro, topped the leaderboard during last week's Fright Night, performing "a creepy Charleston" to Derek Martin's Happy.
Roberts admits that his mindset has shifted since the start of the dancing competition. What once worried him most was leaving early, but now he's fully committed to seeing it through to the end.
"I think coming into the competition, I was just thinking I don’t want to be the first or second to go, you’re kind of nervous of going out early. Now that I’m actually in it, I’m just addicted to the adrenaline and the buzz on a Sunday night when it goes well."
He added: "I want to be here until the bitter end and to the final. It’s so hard seeing people go every week, but we’re all building such camaraderie and friendships, and the place is getting quieter in here when you’re rehearsing, but I think we’re all just in the same frame of mind now – we want to be here until the end and enjoy the full experience."
Watch: Eric Roberts and Arianna Favaro score 39 points for their Charleston during last Sunday's Fright Night on Dancing with the Stars
When asked whether the show has become more competitive and less about having fun, he acknowledged that contestants are becoming more secretive about their routines.
"I'd love to say it’s not, but one hundred per cent [we are]. We used to have such fun show-and-tells of each other’s dances, and now everything is under wraps. There’s definitely a competitive edge coming out in people, which is understandable – everyone wants to perform their best every weekend, and you want to keep a few tricks up your sleeve coming into Sunday."
This weekend each couple will dance two competitive routines. As usual, each couple will dance an individual routine, inspired by a boy band banger or a girl group classic.
The couples will then join forces for the annual Team Dance challenge. This year, it's boys against girls, with hosts and team captains, Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox, taking part in the routine.
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 6:30pm.
