Johnny says he’s not got an unfair DWTS advantage
DANCING With The Stars’ Johnny Ward has brushed off claims he has an unfair advantage over his fellow contestants – despite the fact he was in a musical last year.
The Dublin actor, who is best-known for his roles as Pauley in Love/hate and kidnapper Ciaran Holloway in Fair City, received the highest points from the judges on Sunday night’s opening show. Last summer the 31-year-old strutted his stuff in the lead role of Gino Wildes in Copperface Jacks: The Musical in Dublin’s Olympia theatre.
Johnny is keen to prove he is on the same level as his other competitors on RTE’S hit show.
He said: “Did you see Copper Face Jacks: The Musical? Did you see me move before this? On paper it is says, ‘He was in musical,’ but I have done nothing like this.”
A drama and singing teacher at his aunt’s Talented Kids Performing Arts School, Johnny said he pulled out all the stops for his first dance on the show. He added: “You are your own worst critic doing the same moves over and over again, it makes you obsessed. Look, thankfully everything paid off.” Johnny told how he had some extra motivation on Sunday night as his girlfriend supported him on the show.
He said: “I have been going strong with Rachel for five-anda-half years. We met in the panto in 2012.
“She was in the audience the other night and that gave me a bit of a boost to see her.”
Despite clocking up extra attention from female fans the actor said he isn’t the series three pinup, adding: “Have you seen Darren Kennedy? He is stunning, have you ever seen somebody that looks so good with and without glasses. “You think your confidence is great until you see Peter Stringer in the dressing room. Have you seen him? He is like a machine.”
Meanwhile, last year’s DWTS champion Jake Carter has dashed any hopes of his Wagon Wheel star brother Nathan appearing on the hit show.
He said: “Never say never but I think he would feel the pressure, even though we get on well I think he would try to do a little bit better than me.”
‘He’s stunning ..looks so good with or without his glasses’ ‘He’s like a machine..he’s in incredible nick’