It all scrums to an end for Peter
PETER Stringer was rucked off Dancing With The Stars last night as country singer Cliona Hagan earned the first perfect score of this year’s show.
The 41-year-old rugby star bowed out of the competition on orchestra week, with judges Brian Redmond and Darren Bennett opting to save Fair City actress Clelia Murphy from elimination.
Stringer and partner Ksenia Zsikhotska faced off against the screen star and Vitali Kozmin in a tense dance off.
Despite earning praise from the judges for his American Smooth to Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York, the Cork man’s dancing journey came to an end.
Speaking after his elimination, Peter paid tribute to Ksenia for helping him overcome his fear of the dancefloor.
And opening up about his experience in the showdown, Peter said: “It was nerve-wracking from judges scores, it’s in the back of your mind, but you’re there.
“We had a conversation backstage, it was to go out and enjoy it.
“We just let it go and enjoyed the dance off in the end.
“I didn’t want to die wondering, I gave it everything and I haven’t got any complaints.”
ELEGANT
Cliona Hagan and pro dancer Robert Rowinski didn’t put a foot wrong with their elegant waltz to A Time For Us by Nino Rota, with the judges awarding them the first 30 of the competition.
Complimenting the Tyrone blonde on her stunning performance, Loraine Barry said: “I always feel like waltz is the hardest dance to master and you both made that look easy tonight.
“For me I look at that and see a beautiful love story in motion here.”
After the dance, Cliona said performing to live music by the RTE Concert Orchestra helped her when it came to mastering the routine.
She added: “There’s something about live music – it goes straight into my bones.”
Love/hate actor Johnny Ward and his partner Emily Barker were hot on Cliona’s heels with a near perfect score of 29.
The emotional star dedicated his passionate tango, performed to Coldplay’s Viva La Vida to his father, who is battling cancer.
Johnny said after his dance: “I’m over the moon. It was my most favourite week. “I want to dedicate to my dad and everyone in Tallaght Hospital keeping him here.”
Judge Darren said he was “totally transfixed” by Johnny’s performance.
He added: “This was expressive, explosive – you really dominated the characterisation of the dance.”
Despite earning a high score of 25 for her paso
doble to Funiculi, Funicula by Ricordi with pro dancer Vitali Kozmin,
Clelia found herself in the bottom two after the public vote.
Brian Redmond said the redhead had some more work to do in rehearsals, commenting: “I definitely saw confidence tonight. “There was one area that was slightly short – the body line.” Broadcaster Mairead Ronan and her partner John Nolan kicked off the show with a samba to Barry Manilow’s Copacabana, racking up 21 points on the scoreboard.
LOOSENESS
Loraine said she wanted to see “more looseness” from Mairead in her next performance.
The judge added: “I wanted you to hit it more... we’re in week eight, so not just 100% but 110%.”
Dublin GAA star Denis Bastick earned a score of 23 with an elegant
I gave it everything and I haven’t got any complaints
PETER STRINGER
last night
foxtrot to Adele’s Someone Like You with dancer Valeria Milova.
Darren commended the sportsman on his performance, saying it was Denis’ “best ballroom dance so far”.
The judge added: “[The dance was] sensuous – something you wouldn’t hear about a Dublin footballer. I really felt like you got into the essence of the dance.”
Dusting himself off after being in the dance off last week, comedian Fred Cooke and his partner Giulia Dotta avoided the bottom two with a jive to I’m Still Standing by Elton John.
And following a standing ovation, Fred said: “It’s a rollercoaster, it’s like Funderland – it’s such a joy.”
The duo earned a total of 24 points for their performance with Loraine complimenting the comedian’s dancefloor skills.
She said: “Not only are you still standing, you are outstanding.”