1.
RTÉ has revealed the names of six of the brand new couples for series five of Dancing with the Stars which returns this Sunday night at 6.30 pm to RTÉ One. The hugely popular Sunday evening entertainment series, which sees familiar faces from the world of entertainment team up with a professional dancer to perform a live routine each week, is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ and is set to run from January to March, providing some much-welcome glamour and truckloads of sparkles to kick off Sunday evening viewing in the New Year. Presenters Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne will be back at the helm of the series on Sunday Judges Loraine Barry and Brian Redmond will also return to Dancing with the Stars, and in January will be joined by new judging panel member - dancer and acclaimed choreographer - Arthur Gourounlian. Brian Redmond, Lorraine Barry and Arthur Gourounlian will be in the judges seats All three judges will be ready to give their informed, upfront, and sometimes tough-talking reviews and scores from each of the live performances to the contestants. Among the other changes for the upcoming series are that 12 brand-new celebrities will now take part in the show (previously there were 11), and the series will get straight down to business, with celebrities and their partners being voted off from week 2 of the 12-week run of shows. Tune in this Sunday night at 6:30pm on RTÉ One.
2.
Aengus Mac Grainna is partnered with Emily Barker for series five of Dancing with the Stars. Having made it to the final last season, Emily will be hoping this year she can go one step further and take home the glitterball trophy with this year's partner Aengus.
3.
Swimmer Ellen Keane is partnered with Stephen Vincent as he returns to Dancing with the Stars for his second series. They'll be going for gold once they take to the dancefloor in January.
4.
Ireland's Rugby Seven's star Jordan Conroy will dance with new pro dancer Salome Chachua. They are hoping that Jordan's positive and hardworking attitude combined with Salome's wealth of experience from the Dancing with the Stars in Georgia will lead them to the grand final.