With only days to go until the Dancing With the Stars final, Eric Roberts has answered criticism that the show is sacrificing its best dancers in favour of "novelty" contestants.
The Ireland AM host and his pro dancer Arianna Favaro line out tor the last time this Sunday alongside Tolü Makay and Maciej Zięba, Paudie Moloney and Laura Nolan, and Katelyn Cummins and Leonardo Lini for the glitterball showdown.
However, the departure of Jordan Dargan on last week's show has seen an increase in online chatter and media criticism that the voting public are favouring fun over dancing talent, with some people wondering why Paudie has made it this far in the competition. The pure cheek!
"There’s always going to be that kind of talk, especially this late on in the series. All I can say is that it is up to the public," Donegal native Eric says.
"I know it’s the public that are making these comments and giving out but they’re also the ones keeping people in the competition so obviously somebody wants them there."
He added, "Paudie is 69 years of age and he’s put in the same graft as the rest of us and he’s doing it so gracefully and he’s enjoying the whole process.
"He is one of the most entertaining and funny people I’ve ever met so I can see why he has done so well. He deserves to be there as much as the rest of us."
Speaking about Jordan's shock exit, Eric said, "Jordan was one of my best friends and I was so, so devastated to see him go but I’m sad to see anyone go at this stage in the competition but whoever is in that final deserves to be there."
Of course, Eric himself has always been a bit of a mover. He taught himself how to body-pop and he was also one half of the dance duo Static Movement, who auditioned for TV shows including Got to Dance and Ireland's Got Talent.
The former special needs assistant also revealed that his dad, Bobby, has cried every time he’s been in the studio audience for the show. "He’s come down from Donegal to be in the audience and there’s tears in his eyes and he gives me a hug," Eric says. "And I have to fight back my own tears..
"My family have been so supportive. My sisters have been running s political/military campaign up there in Donegal trying to get votes every week.
"We do de-briefs every Sunday where they tell me what I could have done differently and how I could improve. It means so much to hear about the support."
Eric built up his profile via social media before making the move into television and he says Bobby, who is a retired civil servant, has taken up online influencing himself.
"He’s seen the success I’ve had over the past couple of years," Eric says. "He goes for a swim every morning - rain, hail or shine - with his friend Frank and they say hello to their followers, not that they have many but it’s like they have a couple of million each. They’re so entertaining."
Eric knows exactly what his plans are when he hangs up his dancing shoes after Sunday night . . .
"My wife would murder me if I didn’t take some time off after this experience," he says. "It’s been so, so busy but it’s not that I have to do this - I get to do this.
"My wife is at home with our 14-month-old son. It’s been a much bigger challenge for her. I get to go out and have the time of my life and I would have not been able to do this without her support.
"So, it’s up to me now when the show finishes to spoil her rotten with a very expensive holiday."
Asked how he’s feeling ahead of this Sunday’s final, Eric says, "I’m exhausted, excited, the body’s in bits, the mind’s in bits. It’s been such a long journey but I’m so incredibly happy I’ve made it this far.
"I was an anxious wreck last week for the semi-final and I suppose there’s a wave of relaxation over me now that I’m in the final. I’m buzzing for the weekend."
The final of Dancing With the Stars airs on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player this Sunday at 6.30pm
