Sparkle season is almost upon us – no, not Christmas – Dancing with the Stars makes its triumphant RTÉ One return on January 11th. Most recently, it has been confirmed that Maïa Dunphy will join the ranks of celebs including Bernard O'Shea and Deirdre O'Kane and she was in studio with Ryan Tubridy to talk pre-dance floor jitters.
"They must have been really really stuck!… They meant to ring somebody else, they meant to ring Anne Doyle… I'm in so much trouble. I don't know what I've gotten myself into, because I can't dance. Even the Macarena – after the first arm cross, I lost interest and couldn't remember!"
Maïa won't reveal who her dance partner is yet but she's more than happy to discuss the revealing costumes.
"Now I have said please don't put me in anything too short too soon because I don't have that level of confidence but I've just found out what my first dance is and I think I may be in something that's not floor skimming… You have these tights that are like scaffolding, they're ludicrous, they do hold things in!"
When it comes to the interaction the professional dancers, Maïa says it's hands on, right from day one.
"They're all young, physically very beautiful in amazing shape and then they are just writhing up against each other all the time. I'm just a proper Irish person with a lot of inhibitions and my dance partner already came right up to me, hands on my shoulders… and said, you're a terrible sloucher! He put his hand on my stomach, hand on my shoulders, pushing himself right into my backside, it's up close and personal!"
Maïa's wary of the politics of voting but will milk whatever connections she can.
"Dubliners don't tend to vote, but my dad's from New Ross, come on Wexford get behind me! My nanny was from Tipp, big county… My mum is Spanish. She's new Irish, so all the new Irish, pick up the phones! If it comes down to it I'll just say I will send in a euro in an envelope if you vote for me!"
Click here to listen to the interview in full