Aengus Mac Grianna will pay tribute to his days at the RTE news desk in a special ‘Anchorman’ inspired performance on Dancing With The Stars this week.
The former RTE newsreader, who went viral online when he was caught topping up his make-up on air almost a decade ago, also teased that the routine could also feature a look back at the famous blunder.
“It’s fun, that is the main thing,” he told the Irish Mirror, remaining coy about the details of Sunday’s Movie Week special.
“It is having a bit of a laugh at yourself and that is so important.
“So I'm just going to embrace it and hopefully have a lot of fun with it.”
Aengus and his pro-partner Emily Barker will be dancing a salsa to the comedic Anchorman themed routine and teased there will be plenty of ‘hip action’ as he channels his inner Ron Burgundy.
He said: “The comments that I've been getting is that I was quite stiff in my movements so i’m hoping that this dance will show that I am less rigid and that I am willing to let loose, hopefully,” he laughed.
“So there is going to be a lot of hip action, well, an attempt at hip action.”
The 57-year-old journalist said the intense training has been tough on his body, but said he is already noticing huge physical changes.
“Well what i’m certainly noticing is that i’m not actually losing any weight, which people were saying to me all of the time, but I am certainly toning.
“There is definitely that. And that is great. It is great to get out in January and to be doing stuff like that at this stage.
“I love it, I love every minute of it. I mean it is tough, I'm doing something really physical, I'm learning to dance with professionals, I mean how bad is that.
He went on: “Every new dance tests muscles you never knew you had.
“But as it goes on, I mean certainly the first two weeks of training before Christmas I found that very very tough.
“But after that, once I kind of pushed through that barrier, and got the legs moving again, I'm getting used to things a lot better now.”
And after 30 years spent broadcasting into people’s homes, he said the support from fans nationwide has been a huge help in keeping his spirits high when he has found himself struggling along the way.
“People are really kind and I find that that support that I have gotten so far, that when I am having a really bad moment or a tough time in rehearsals, it is because of the people that are supporting me that I think, ‘ok get yourself together and keep going.
“There are people rooting for you, and keep pushing through’.
“And that drives me on.”
Dancing With The Stars airs Sunday on RTE One at 6.30pm.
