KEEP ON DANCING
Glitterball is tipped to be back for an eighth season following another record year in the ratings
THERE is a ‘good buzz’ in RTÉ over the prospect of Dancing with the Stars returning for yet another turn on the dancefloor next year as final ratings revealed that the ever-popular TV show drew an extra 18,000 viewers this year.
Figures provided by RTÉ show that the average viewership of the Sunday night favourite, over the 11 episodes of the seventh season – which was won last Sunday night by Derry Paralympic sprinter Jason Smyth, and his professional dance partner Karen Byrne – came in at a whopping 462,000.
That compares to an average viewerGiven ship of 444,000 across the 11 episodes in 2023.
Asked if the series would come back for another display of nimble feet next year, an RTÉ spokeswoman said it is
‘too early to comment on the possibility of an eighth series’.
However, an RTÉ source said ‘there’s a good buzz’ about the series coming back in 2025 thanks to the programme’s ratings being so strong, though they also agreed that it is ‘probably too early to tell’ for certain. the success of the latest season – and the enduring popularity of the show among the Irish public – a decision to axe DWTS now would indicate financial catastrophe at the State broadcaster.
The wait for the green light of this year’s edition turned into a saga which dragged on for months last year, after RTÉ was rocked by several financial scandals during the second half of 2023.
But despite questions over whether the cash-strapped broadcaster had the funds to stage the Sunday night extravaganza for a seventh season – via the production company ShinAwiL – its continuously strong performance in the ratings stakes for the 2023 series eventually won out and the show returned with the same budget as it had in previous years.
And with the 2024 series performing even better than the last, producers shouldn’t have to plead their case too strongly in getting the go-ahead for another season – as long as the money is there or course.
Last Sunday’s finale was watched by an average of 520,000 people on RTÉ One and RTÉ One +1.
Those who were watching live on RTÉ One made up an impressive 45% of people who were watching television at that time.
In comparison, the 2023 DWTS series finale – which saw 2FM presenter Carl Mullen and partner Emily Barker crowned glitterball champions – had an average of 463,000 viewers on RTÉ One and RTÉ One +1.
The RTÉ One number represented an average TV viewership share of 34%.
This year’s series performed better than last year’s from the off, in presenters Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy’s second time out as a duo after Garrihy replaced Nicky Byrne at the start of season six.
An average of 576,400 viewers tuned in to RTÉ One and RTÉ One +1 for this year’s first episode on 7 January – over 50,000 more than watched the 2023 curtain raiser.
Six-time gold medal winning Paralympian Smyth beat off competition last week from Ireland’s Fittest Family presenter Laura
‘The wait for the green light turned into a saga’
‘It’s about showing what is possible’
Fox, Wild Youth singer/guitarist David Whelan and Belfast drag queen Blu Hydrangea.
The retired sprinter, who also has eight World Championship golds and six European golds to his name, said he felt ‘incredible’ after capturing the top prize on offer once again.
‘It’s about showing what’s possible and I really hope that that’s what I’ve done through this journey,’ he said, before thanking his wife who ‘put in a huge amount of sacrifice’ and his dance partner Byrne.
Smyth, who has Stargardt’s disease and is legally blind, upset the odds in winning the public vote to claim the glitterball. Whelan and Fox had been considered favourites throughout the series with Hydrangea making a late charge.
Judge Loraine Barry told the MoS before the final that those three were her favourites, but she added: ‘Jason, let’s face it, with his impairment it’s amazing what he is doing, but also it’s down to our professionals.’