Neil Delamere admitted he was 'shocked' as he was booted out of Dancing with the Stars last night.
The comedian and his partner Kylee Vincent were the second couple to leave the RTE show, after their cha cha cha to the Ghostbusters' famous theme tune failed to win over viewers.
Speaking after the results were announced, Neil, who scored 18 points from judges on the night, admitted he was 'shocked' to hear his name called out.
He said: "Yeah, I suppose we were shocked, yeah. But that is the show I suppose.
"I know people in previous years who I thought would have stayed in longer were booted out fairly early so it is always a possibility."
But the pair said they will continue to root for Kylee's husband Stephen Vincent, who is still in the competition with Ellen Keane as the weeks go on.
Professional dancer Kylee said: "Stephen and I always cheer each other on. We have what we call the Vincent's family where we all support each other in our little group with Ellen and Neil. So we will be supporting them all the way."
Commenting on their performance on the night, judge, Arthur said: "That was so much fun! With the cha-cha, you have to let the inner campness out. I loved it."
But Brian felt he tried ‘a little bit too hard' and advised him to 'calm down a little bit'.
Neil joked with host Nicky Byrne, saying: "I thought my inner campness was left all over the floor there.
“You're going to have to clean up my inner campness."
Jennifer Zamparelli was back on co-hosting duties in style, alongside Nicky Byrne, after missing out on last week's show, where she was replaced by Lottie Ryan after testing positive for Covid.
The hosting duo were joined by judges Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond, and Arthur Gourlinian, who were on hand to score each performance throughout the evening as the 11 celebrities took on ‘Movie Week’.
First to perform was Love Island star Matthew MacNabb and his professional partner Laura Nolan, who danced a foxtrot to You Got A Friend in Me from Toy Story.
"I'm impressed," said judge Loraine Barry.
"You listened, and you let the body go. You rolled through the feet, did very good footwork, the posture was very good.
Brian also liked the performance, saying: “Tonight you were dressed as Woody but you finally had a bit of fluidity.”
After a rocky start to the competition, Matthew said: "It feels good to get positive feedback after all the work we've put in.”
They scored a total of 17.
After topping the leaderboard in her first few weeks, jockey Nina Carberry and her professional partner Pasquale De La Rocca dropped down the ranks last night, as they took on the tango to U2's Elevation from Tomb Raider.
Brian said the performance was ‘not your best night but still pretty good,” and Loraine added, ‘for me it was just a little bit empty’.
But Arthur was full of praise as he said: "Nina, they say good things come in threes.
"You have delivered quickstep, rhumba and now the tango. Is there anything you can't do?"
Nina and Pasquale earned a total of 19 points from the judges, their lowest of the season.
The Little Mermaid's Under the Sea was the music for champion athlete Ellen Keane and Stephen Vincent's samba.
"Well, this little mermaid certainly made a samba splash this evening," said judge Brian.
Loraine agreed, saying: “That was a loaded samba, and you are right up there in the competition with them all.
Dubbing the dance as ‘magical’, Arthur added: “That samba was delicious, you were floating tonight.”
Ellen and Stephen scored a total of 22 points.
Aslan star Billy McGuinness returned to the floor with his partner Hannah Kelly for their paso doble to Journey's Any Way You Want It from Rock of Ages.
But the performance failed to impress Loraine, who said it was lacking dance moves.
She said: “You hit every beat and made every step, but you aren’t dancing. We need more characterisation, get into the body work, dance.”
But Arthur credited the singer for providing ‘great entertainment’.
The judges awarded them a total of 14 points.
Next up was rugby player Jordan Conroy and partner Salome Chachua who took viewers to Madagascar with their cha-cha-chat to I Like to Move It.
Arthur told Jordan he reminded him of himself, saying: "You are a big ball of energy every single week, and I love that about you. You give 100% to the dance, so thank you."
Jordan confessed to host Nicky he was speechless after the performance, admitting he had a tough week in rehearsals.
He said: "Up until Friday I had a pretty bad week. But Saturday I got it together and - yeah - I'm speechless!"
The judges awarded the couple a total of 20 points.
Contemporary ballroom was the dance of choice for model Missy Keating and partner Ervinas Melfeldas, dancing to Running with the Wolves from hit Irish film, Wolfwalkers.
Stepping off the floor barefoot, Missy beamed: “I had the best time. I loved playing that character . . . I'm so happy. I'm really, really happy."
Lorraine credited the social media star for a ‘mystical, magical and dramatic’ performance.
Arthur added: “This is what I’m talking about, baby. Your technique is on point. You gave me goosebumps. That was mesmerising”
Missy and Ervanis, who are the youngest couple in the series, scored a total of 24 points.
Presenter Gráinne Seoige and partner John Nolan performed a rumba to the Bond classic, Shirley Bassey's Diamonds are Forever.
But the diamond's boss, who runs her own jewellery company, revealed she was lucky to even make it to the dancefloor, after suffering a quad injury in rehearsal.
“I couldn’t actually walk yesterday, so to get out and do what I did, I am super proud,” she said.
But the judges said the injury was evident throughout the performance, and criticised her hip action.
Loraine said: “The perfect song for you, but what is it all about. It is about the cut, the clarity, the colour and the carrot.
“My question is is the injury stopping you from the hip earthy action.
Arthur added: “Rumba is sexy and difficult, you can’t make any mistakes because we can see every detail. I wish I could see that spark of intensity.
Brian agreed, and offered some words of advice, saying: “It just needed to be a bit more earthy and a little bit more polishing needed on that diamond.”
The pair scored 13.
Newsreader Aengus Mac Grianna embraced the spirit of Anchorman's Ron Burgundy, dancing a lively samba with partner Emily Barker to Tom Jones' Help Yourself.
Brian joked: “Now after that, getting caught doing your makeup on TV, this is only the second most embarrassing thing
“We’ve had a great streak..it has probably ended with that.
Loraine said: “It was [hilarious] but maybe not for the right reasons. I’ve no doubt you worked very hard on that, but it is not quite up there with the others.
But Arthur commented on the fun element, adding: “I could tell you were having the time of your life on that dancefloor.”
The former RTE newsreader laughed off the comments, and joked: “I knew when I left this morning I was leaving my dignity behind. But it was great fun.”
The judges awarded them a total of 11 points, the lowest score of the night.
But host Nicky said he was his winner of the night.
Finally, it was the turn of Nicolas Roche and partner Karen Byrne, who performed an American smooth to Singin’ In the Rain.
Impressed Loraine told them: "Well, they say style lasts forever, and I think this performance will stay with you forever.”
“I felt overall it was a very stylish performance, up on the toes. Improving.”
Brain agreed, adding: “You are improving week on week. There’s also a glint in your eye that tells me you are enjoying this now.”
Professional partner and former champion Karen gushed afterwards: “I feel like a proud mammy,” as the judges awarded them a total of 19 points.
The final act to take to the stage on the night were Erica Cody and partner Denys Samson, with their lively charleston to When We're Human from The Princess and the Frog, a film Erica said was her favourite since she was a child.
Loraine said: “It was really good. This is what you call showbusiness.”
Arthur gushed that the performance was ”stunning,” before handing out the first 10 of the series.
He added: "Erica, this was so beautifully presented and not only for you, for every single girl and boy who will be inspired by you after that performance."
Coming out on top of the leaderboard, Erica said the performance was ‘an absolute honour’ and dedicated it to other ‘little Ericas out there’
"Even though I was about 12 when the movie came out, the impact it had on me. Just to see another person represented on Disney that looks like me. I say it all the time, representation is everything."
“If you see it you believe you can achieve it.”
“It was a dream come true.”
The pair scored 28 points, taking the top score of the night for the second time this series.
The night ended with a guest performance of Cinderella from The Irish National Youth Ballet.
Dancing with the Stars continues Sunday on RTE One at 6.30pm.
