Perfect 30 for delighted Dayl on Dancing with the Stars
All hail Dayl, they said, and the Hometown singer was the big winner on the latest outing of Dancing with the Stars, in a week when no-one got the flick, .
Instead it was decided that points scored last night will be carried over into next week’s show, and while the absence of anyone getting the axe eliminated any element of drama from the Sunday night show, it seems to have worked wonders for some of the dancers.
Without the prospect of getting the boot, a few high scores were registered in ‘switch-up week’, with the participants exchanging their usual dance partners.
Tonight's show opened with a group dance in which everyone pitched in for a performance to Take That hit ‘Everything Changes’.
Vitalit & @sportsdes kicking off Switch Week! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/FYLnb5tzr6
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
The contestants then got down to business, including a decidedly nasal Des Cahill, who admitted he’d nearly packed it in during the week due to a sinus infection.
The sportscaster is undoubtedly familiar with the concept of samba football, having watched Brazil in World Cups since God knows when, but last night it was the real thing.
So ‘tchau’ to regular dance partner Karen Byrne and ‘olá’ to Ksenia Zsikhotska for a go at ‘Quando, Quando, Quando’ by Engelbert Humperdinck.
It was just like watching Brazil, although possibly the modern-day iteration rather than the 1970 vintage.
"I'm 35 years older than Dayl!" You're looking good to us @sportsdes! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/o0GUE7LOSt
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
The audience went for it, whereas the judges weren’t so sure, awarding the pair a total of 17 marks.
Still, Des got to wear a velvet jacket and got a good-natured smack on the arse from his dance partner.
Des and Ksenia weren’t the only ones frolicking in a South American style.
Aidan O’Mahony, paired with Karen Byrne, was also on samba duty to ‘Mas Que Nada’ by Sergio Mendes, and fared even worse when it came to the marks, bagging just 15 points.
A total of 15 for @GmailMahony & @KarenDWTS's Samba! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/lGQGK1z3oi
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
Darren Bennett said he thought the scratch pairing and classic track would take us all to Rio, but instead we ended up stuck in Dublin Airport.
Less Copacabana, more Copa Clontarf.
It wasn’t all bad news on RTÉ’s budget-blowing bop fest.
Katherine Lynch and Vitali Kozmin on the Paso Doble to ‘O Fortuna’ by Carl Orff, and the blood- red lighting appeared to give way to the real stuff when it emerged that Vitali got a scratch on the torso during rehearsals.
'Fiery, passionate & agressive!' Wow stunning performance from @katherinelyncho & Vitali! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/uTjzRYqlak
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
Denise McCormack teamed up with John Nolan to perform a Viennese waltz to ‘Powerful’ by Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley, and got a healthy 26 points for their troubles.
A standing ovation for @desnisemcactress & @johnednolan! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/m7doqbyUkB
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
Later, Teresa Mannion and Ryan McShane went down the jive route to rock ’n’ roll classic ‘Tutti Frutti’ by Little Richard and the performance rated a middling 18 points.
'You really did GO FOR IT!' Well done @TeresaMannion & @RYANMCS #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/xLqi72FBLb
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
The big winner was Dayl Cronin, with Valeria Milova, going Salsa to ‘Give Me Everything’ by Pitbull.
WOW, wow, wow! What a move @CroninDayl! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/mhERuSNVBo
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
In Kraftwerk-style fluorescent garb the duo’s work in the rehearsal studio paid off in spades, scoring a perfect 30 points from the judges.
What a moment! Congratulations @CroninDayl & Valeria! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/ezkX2jaOxV
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
"The first every perfect 10's!!' @CroninDayl & Valeria chat to @NickyByrne about their perfect score! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/VMD3CMqUa9
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
Aoibhín Garrihy and Kai Widdrington went for the foxtrot to ‘Big Bad Handsome Man’ by Imelda May.
A total of 28 points for that beautiful foxtrot from @AoibhinGarrihy & @Kaiwidd! #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/fyBJhh6g5l
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2017
It was almost perfect for the judges, who awarded 29 points, but was not quite enough on Dayl Day.
