Nicolas Roche failed to bag a spot in the Dancing With Stars semi-final next week, as his time on the RTE show came to an end tonight.
The Around the World themed quarter final saw performances inspired by locations from Tokyo to Rio, and London to Istanbul, as the celebs battled it out in a bid to make it to the crucial next stage.
And whilst he began the show with a slick slide down the glitzy stairs at the start of his Parisian themed routine, there was a one-way ticket home for cyclist Nicolas and his pro partner Karen Byrne on the night, as their journey ground to a halt after an intense dance-off against Ellen Keane and Ervinas Merfeldas.
All three judges chose to save Ellen, but heaped praise onto Nicolas following his final performance.
Leaving the show last night, Nicolas said: "It has been an incredible journey - when I was told about the show, I straight away agreed and I have no regrets, it has been a life-chancing experience."
Holding back tears, his professional partner Karen, added: “I swore I wasn’t going to get emotional but with everyone standing.. I hate when people cry on telly, but I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, and the improvement has been amazing.”
Nicolas and Karen danced a floaty foxtrot to Sinatra's I Love Paris - a nod to when Nicolas moved to live in France in his teenage years.
And despite his departure, the judges praised the performance, with Brian saying: "You are improving so much across your top line and captured the character of what is an extremely difficult technical dance."
Loraine added: "Foxtrot is the gentleman's dance and for me that's what makes you look so good."
It was a busy night for the stars, with two dances each to complete before the dance-off at the end of the show.
And the claws were out in the competitive show, which was also the first of the season to feature competitive group dances, where the remaining six hopefuls battled it out in groups of three with their pro-partners.
With Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne presenting, judges Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond, and Arthur Gourounlian were on hand as usual with their expert opinions and scores throughout the evening.
First to take to the floor was athlete Ellen Keane with pro-partner for the night Ervinas Merfeldas, dancing a last minute, lift-filled samba to Left My Heart in Tokyo - a nod to Ellen's gold medal win there.
The pair had just one day to master the routine together, after Ellen's dance partner Stephen Vincent tested positive for Covid-19.
"It has been a mad 24 hours and Ervinas has done so much," Ellen said.
"He did such a good job."
Commenting after the dance, Loraine said: "You have pulled this together in less than 24 hours...you both saved the day, you were both warriors. I loved this."
Arthur said: "Ellen, you didn't leave your heart in Tokyo, you left your heart on the dancefloor tonight. You are fearless."
Brian said: "I really really liked that, I thought you did it very well...you proved again this week Ellen that you are a real fighter."
The pair scored 26 from the judges.
After two weeks in the bottom two and fighting for his place in the dance off, rugby star Jordan Conroy had another spanner in the works this week, as he had to take to the dance floor with his new partner Emily Barker, after his partner Salome Chachua tested positive with Covid 19.
Jordan and Emily danced a lively charleston to The Bangles' Walk Like an Egyptian that blew the judges away.
Commenting afterwards, Loraine said: "It was truly a wonderful number."
Brian said: "I always felt charleston was a dance that was going to suit you - you proved me right."
Arthur added: "Your dancing ability, your strength and commitment to this competition is flawless"
After missing his birthday dinner with Salome during the week, Jordan got his birthday wish as he sailed through to the semi-finals with an impressive 29 points from the judges.
The fourth celebrity to dance was Love Island star Matthew MacNaab with pro-partner Laura Nolan, dancing a sultry tango to Rio by Duran Duran.
Arthur said: "Matthew, you brought the passion of Rio to the dancefloor tonight."
Brian said: "You started with intensity, commitment to the movement... it's just the face that's missing at this stage, your body brought us on the journey"
Loraine said: "I like this Matthew, I felt you got yourself in the correct tango position."
- Matthew and Laura scored 23 from the judges.
Singer Erica-Cody and partner Denys Samson were thrilled to return to the floor together, after Denys had to miss last week's show.
Dancing a cha-cha-cha, the pair ventured to Italy with their energetic routine set to Mambo Italiano.
Brian said: "Denys, it's great to have you back! But if you ever want a week off again, i’d happily step in to dance with Erica if she is dancing like that. Great rhythm, great action. By far the best cha-cha we have seen this year."
Loraine said: "That crispness was there, that's the real cha-cha-cha that we want"
Arthur said: "Another spellbinding, memorable performance"
Erica and Denys had a triumphant return with a show stopping 30 points from the judges - their first marks top score of the season.
Last up were jockey Nina Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca, taking their inspiration from London with an American smooth to A Foggy Day (in London Town)
Loraine said: "Soft, flowing, glitzy, glamorous...it had the Hollywood style American smooth"
Brian said: "The way you glided around that room...that is class"
Arthur said: "Nina, that was beautiful, like a feather flowing in front of my eyes. The timing was super."
Nina and Pasquale scored 29 from the judges.
For the group performances, The Cuban Groovers consisted of Ellen and Ervinas, Jordan and Emily, and Nicolas and Karen, dancing freestyle to Cuba, with Nicolas commenting that the trio of athletes would cope well under pressure!
The Cuban Groovers scored 27 from the judges.
The team Turkish Delights was made up of Erica & Denys, Matthew & Laura, and Nina and Pasquale, dancing to Istanbul (not Constantinople).
Turkish Delights were victorious, scoring 29 from the judges
With the points added to the dancer's overall leaderboard scores, Erica and Denys were topping the leaderboard, and Nicolas and Karen at the bottom of the board. In the end, when the votes were counted, it was Nicolas and Ellen who had to dance again in the dance-off, with the deciding vote going to the judges in the studio.
