Dancing With The Stars judge Brian Redmond revealed he has had crazed fans scold him on the street over comments he has made about celebrities on the show.
Brian is best known as the tough talking judge on the RTE One series since it began in 2017.
His sharp tongue and candid criticisms have gone on for him to be slapped with the label of ‘Mr Nasty’ on social media over the years.
But he has also faced criticism whilst going about his day to day life outside of the reality series.
“The only time I was a bit ‘Whoah’ was back in season one when I was putting petrol into my car early in the morning,” the 44-year-old said.
“Some guy got out of a white van and shouted across the forecourt at me, ‘Hey you, leave Dessie Cahill alone’ and he marched straight at me.
"It turned out that they played football together and he gave Dessie as much stick on the football field as I did on the dancefloor.
“He was enjoying the banter too. The Irish psyche loves that mischief and usually it goes down well.”
And the dad-of-two said he finds no more solace at home, where he is usually met by his biggest critics.
“The place I get the most criticism is at home,” he said.
“Either from my own wife Jen or from my little girl Anna.
“I can just about handle Anna but I do have to put my head down every now and again with Jen,” he laughed.
It comes as the seasoned judge and former dance champion revealed that contestant Matthew McNabb confronted him last week after the show.
The former Love Islander got off to a rocky start on the show, and found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard week after week.
“Matthew MacNabb is a lovely guy and he said ‘You don’t like me very much’ when we came off air two weeks ago,” Brian explained.
“Firstly, I don’t know him and secondly I quite like the bit about him that I do know. I was delighted to see him turn it around on Sunday night and maybe he thinks I like him a little bit more.”
And despite any criticisms, he said he stands by every comment and score he has made.
“It is always about the dancing, and while it can be difficult sometimes it is a challenge somebody has to take on and I am quite happy to do it.”
Heading into the second half of the fifth series of the Irish show, made by Irish production company ShinAwil, Brian dispelled any fears that the show will finish after its present contract ends this year.
Asked if it will be back on screens this time next year, he said: “I believe so. I don’t see any justification for it not coming back next year. It is loved by the public, as is proved by the viewing figures, and the press.”
He added: “Viewing figures are through the roof and in fact the figures for our middle of the road shows are as strong as previous finals.
“Does the show have a lifespan? Sure, of course it does, every show does. But are we anywhere near it? I don’t think so.”
Asked if he thinks money could be an issue within the public broadcaster to continue running the show in the future, he added: “I’m not in the tax department in RTE, I can’t tell you how the budgets breakdown.
“One thing I can tell you is RTE is not run by stupid people. If it was costing them a fortune to run it every year, they wouldn’t be running it.”
Brian went on to highlight the show’s importance in his eyes, for fans and viewers at home.
“The public service that it does, ok it is not prime time, or a documentary about saving the planet.
“But it has a very important public service role.”
Dancing With The Stars airs Sundays on RTE One at 6.30pm.
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