Dancing with the Stars judge Loraine Barry predicts the return to a live audience after two years of Covid restrictions will bring a new energy to the show.
Changes for 2023 include a shortened 11-week run, two female hosts and the first same-sex couple taking the floor with Panti Bliss paired with pro Denys Samson. But ballroom dancing queen Loraine, 58, said she is “beyond excited” at the prospect of a live audience and the dynamic it will bring to the Sunday night spectacular.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “We came back in 2022 under a lot of restrictions – we had to do a lot of testing, wearing masks, social distancing and so on. This year we’re back to the full free-flowing show. When you don’t have a live audience you can lose a bit of the energy...
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“I’m very excited about it, of course selfishly I love to do the show, I love the challenge of live TV, hair and make-up. But to be honest I love it more than anything for the Irish public. I know they love this show, it carries them from winter into spring.
“They get to know the celebs, they know the judges, the presenters, it’s a good healthy programme for all the family to watch.”
With Nicky Byrne quitting the show to tour with Westlife, Jennifer Zamparelli will be joined by Doireann Garrihy as co-host. Loraine said: “He [Nicky] was brilliant, we all got on very very well, but we all understand his main gig is Westlife.
“Now we’ve got Doireann and that is going to be an interesting dynamic, she’s a fun gal. Both Doireann and Jennifer are on radio, they are both used to talking, both have the gift of the gab a bit.”
This year’s eclectic line-up includes drag queen Panti Bliss, former State pathologist Marie Cassidy, footballer Stephanie Roche and rubgy legend Shane Byrne.
With the celebs kept under wraps until the big reveal, Loraine was in the dark but reckons the mix of personalities will make for a “fascinating” competition.
She added: “I hadn’t a clue, I learned day by day like everyone else. It was exciting to hear the reveal day by day. I think it’s a good line up, the class of 2022/2023 is going to be absolutely fascinating.
“Marie Cassidy, now there is a lady who is going to be after details, who will analyse and scrutinise each dance and break down the steps. The footballer, Stephanie, you think there’s somebody with stamina, she’s going to do well, she’ll be light on her feet.
“Carl Mullan, an absolute messer, the joker of the pack. I’m thinking is he going to transform my beautiful world of ballroom dancing into something else?
“Then you have Panti, that will be interesting, she will come out in her heels and sequins...” Loraine said she’s delighted that fan favourite Arthur Gourounlian is returning as a judge alongside Brian Redmond meaning “the trio are back together”.
She said: “The first two to three weeks are very important to let the contestants get their feet on the floor.
“It’s nerve-wracking, but after that it’s time to really knuckle down – the celebrities either go for it or they shy away from it. There’s a lot of fun involved but there’s also a lot of hard work as well. If it goes wrong you can laugh about it, if it goes right you can celebrate it – either way it’s joyous.
“I always wait before deciding who might make the final, it’s about being able to dance, but not just dance on your own. To dance with a partner, to have good harmony together, that is another challenge.”
London-based Loraine, from Cabra in North Dublin, revealed that her 81-year-old mum becomes “queen” of the care home in Ashtown, Dublin, for the duration of the show’s TV run.
She added: “They all look forward to seeing the show, they love seeing me on screen, they recognise me when I come to visit her. It gives a great boost... the staff there are all great, my mother becomes the queen of the home for the weeks DWTS is on.
“Unfortunately old age has gotten to mum very quickly. We tried our best to keep her at home for as long as possible but she started having falls.She herself said, ‘I think it’s time to go into a home’. She loves it there.
“I take her for days out to the Phoenix Park, The Westbury.”
The pandemic took its toll on the dance industry and ballroom legend Loraine reckons her business is only back to half what it was pre-Covid.
She revealed: “In the world of ballroom dancing China is the biggest competitor, and they’ve been in lockdown. Second is Russia, which has been affected by the war, and a lot of dancers have gone to the US. I’d say I’m back now 50 to 55%, I’ve just been in Italy juding the European Championships.
“In January I’m adjudicating the UK International Dance Championships.Hopefully next year is the year we’re going to go back up to about 80%. Because dance is a luxury, not a necessity. We lost a lot of dancers because a lot of them lost their livelihood and had to do something else when the cost of living crisis hit. But it’s so important because dancing spreads a little bit of happiniess and joy and fun.”
Loraine is known for her keen sense of style and this year she’s determined to bring sustainable fashion to her glam look with the help of former dance student Francesca Lazzari whose designs will feature at New York Fashion Week.
She said: “Everything that I wore in 2022 I’m recycling, most of it is from season two or three and I might add on a feather or whatever. That is my message, to say to women you don’t have to throw something out if your shape changes... you can switch it up.
“She [Francesca] makes the most beautiful scarves. She made a beautiful scarf for Arthur with his image on it, she made a handmade flower for Brian.
“I asked her to make illustrations, one for my hairdresser and one for the make-up artists, I do a gift for everyone at the end of each season.” As for the rumours the show faces the axe, Loraine said it doesn’t bear thinking about.
She added: “I’d be devastated, more devastated for the Irish public because I think the Irish public love this show. I think they should really try to keep it going because it’s very healthy in the winter months.
“I think it brings a bit of cheer, a bit of joy, good family entertainment for all ages.”
- Dancing With The Stars returns on RTE One next Sunday, January 8.
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