Lottie wins the jackpot in dancing final with no audience
RTÉ PRESENTER Lottie Ryan has won this year’s Dancing With The Stars. After 11 weeks, the four finalists took to the dance floor for the last time tonight – brought forward a week because of the coronavirus.
Aidan Fogarty, Ryan Andrews, Gráinne Gallanagh and Lottie all competed last night, but it was Lottie and her dance partner, Pasquale La Rocca, who proved most popular with audiences at home.
Speaking afterwards, Lottie said: ‘I actually have no words. This journey has been the best thing I have ever said yes to. This man has just been life-changing, the things he has taught me, how he has pushed me, and I just can’t thank you enough for everything you have done.’
Each couple had to learn two new dances this week and another pro dancer was introduced to each couple’s second performance.
First to take to the dance floor was former Kilkenny hurler Aidan Fogarty with his dance partner Emily Barker. Their first performance was a slow Viennese waltz to Another Life by Westlife.
Head judge Loraine Barry said: ‘This was just pure beautiful Viennese waltz. Overall, what a fantastic start for the final tonight.’
Fellow judge Brian Dowling said: ‘It was classical Viennese waltz content, you have that power of movement and you’ve had that since day one.’
Aidan scored an impressive 26 from the judges. It was a quickstep for eventual winners Lottie and Pasquale. They danced to Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s duet Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), earning them a perfect 30 from the judges.
An unusually enthusiastic Brian Dowling said: ‘We talked a lot about your power, we’ve talked a lot about your skill, we’ve even talked a lot about the entertainment value that you bring, but, tonight, I’m going to talk about your attention to detail, your attention to detail is just absolutely phenomenal.’
Loraine said: ‘You didn’t miss a beat. I thought, Lottie, you put Pasquale in the perfect position. The storyline is so good, you didn’t just play it out – you danced it out. That’s a powerful performance.’
Former Miss Universe Ireland Gráinne Gallanagh and Kai Widdrington danced a foxtrot to Harry Styles’ track Falling, earning 27 points.
Loraine noted: ‘I think the ballroom girl is back... You said it is difficult, but you made it look so easy.’
Aidan Fogarty and Emily Barker were joined by Laura Nolan for their last dance. Their up-tempo salsa was to I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) by Pitbull.
Aidan looked very happy afterwards. Loraine noted: ‘You look like the cat who got the cream. You definitely did. I thought it was absolutely brilliant here. It was fun, it was sassy, it had those sexy movements in there as well – everything that we would want from a salsa.’