The final begins on RTÉ One at 6.30pm on Sunday, March 16th. The celebrity final foursome includes Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan with pro partner Laura Nolan, Taekwondo Olympian Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov, Mrs Brown’s Boys star Danny O’Carroll with Salome Chachua and TikTok personality Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas Each couple will perform two routines.
Firstly, they will reprise a favourite dance from earlier in the contest. Then they will perform a show dance – “a freestyle performance that allows them to combine different dance styles”. After that, it’s up to the voting public to pick a new champion.
McClenaghan and Nolan will perform their Spider-Man-themed Charleston from Movie Week. Woolley and Vladimirov will dust down their American Smooth as dedicated to Jack’s friend, Olympic boxer Kellie Harrington , during Dedicated Dance week. O’Carroll with Chachua will rewind to their week two Charleston scored by Michael Bublé.
And Trappe and Merfeldas are bringing back Love Week as they do a salsa to Christina Aguilera’s Let There Be Love. Having consistently topped the leaderboard throughout the contest, it is no surprise that McClenaghan is bookie’s favourite, followed by Woolley. Trappe, the only female celebrity in the final, is rank outsider with odds of 14/1.
The best dancer doesn’t always win DWTS. It was personality as much as dancing ability that saw Jason Smyth lift the Glitterball Trophy in 2024 – and a similar narrative.
