DWTS judges on fast-fashion and sustainability

Dancing with the Stars judges Loraine Barry and Brian Redmond attended RTÉ's new season launch yesterday morning to celebrate some of the new and returning programmes coming to RTÉ One and RTÉ2.

We caught up with the ballroom experts to discuss fast fashion, their passion for dancing and the new season of DWTS.

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Casting for the popular dance competition is on-going so the pair had no secrets to reveal when it came to the 2020 line-up, but both were confident that finding competitors wouldn't be a problem.

"We don't know anyone as yet," said Loraine. "But, as far as I know, people will be queuing up because we're in season four. We've had three fantastic seasons and you just have to speak to anyone who has done our show to know they love it, absolutely love it."

"It's great fun," agreed Brian. "We had some great sportspeople over the last few years so I'm sure there will be a whole load of them interested in being involved."

With a lifetime of competitive ballroom behind them, both Brian and Lorraine still melt at the sight of a good dance routine and have been continually impressed by what the celebs deliver to the show.

"Maybe not all of the performances," laughed Brian. "But there's always a few performances during the year where... the mark for me is, as a judge, you find yourself not judging. You actually get into the performance and enjoy it."

Ultimately, the two agree that watching amateurs take on the world of dance inspires them in various aspects of their life and allows their love of ballroom to grow.

"You see someone starting off and they just can't get it," explained Loraine. "Then you come to week three of four and you say, 'hold on, they're turning into a competitor'. It does become quite competitive. In the beginning, they're all friends but then we see a change," she laughed.

"Once we get to the eliminations started, the competitive edge kicks in," agreed Brian.

When we asked the dancing devotees what they were wearing, Lorraine said she had just picked up her dress in New York while Barry laughed and said, "I'm just wearing my usual suit".

Loraine's dresses on DWTS are always memorable. And whilst fashion is a huge part of the show, Loraine is conscious that fast fashion isn't a friend to the environment so in 2018, when her friend and dressmaker passed away, she decided to alter and revamp her wardrobe.

In a previous interview, Loraine told RTÉ, "I want to do it in memory and I also want to promote very much that we don't have to keep buying, we can use our clothes a little bit more because I believe we are the second-biggest landfill clothing."

Dancing With the Stars Ireland will return to RTÉ in 2020.

DWTS judges on fast-fashion and sustainability

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