RTÉ rejected a dance show with Twink nine years ago
RTÉ turned down a ballroom dancing show pilot with Twink at the helm nine years before it commissioned Dancing With The Stars.
A pilot of the show, which was provisionally titled Let’s Dance, was filmed at current judge Brian Redmond’s dance studio.
Twink was lined up as a judge alongside current Dancing With The Stars judge Julian Benson, and Redmond was one of the professional dancers performing.
Twink told the Irish Mail on Sunday that Redmond stole the show and she realised he should be given a judging role.
‘I was a champion ballroom dancer when I was 12,’ she explained.
‘But after I did the pilot I said to the producers, “You need to get Brian Redmond to do the show.”
She added: ‘He is the real star of ballroom
‘I was a champion ballroom dancer when I was 12’
dancing. I am far better off watching the show and I wouldn’t do it this time around if I was asked.’
The pilot was made just after You’re A Star ended its run in 2008, as RTÉ started looking at replacements for the Sunday teatime slot.
Unlike Dancing With The Stars, Let’s Dance focused entirely on ballroom dancing and was piggybacking on the popularity of the movie Strictly Ballroom. Shinawil, the company behind Dancing With The Stars, pitched Let’s Dance to RTÉ.
A well-placed source told the MoS: ‘At the time RTÉ weren’t interested in taking on a dancing show and the pilot was turned down and The All-Ireland Talent Show was picked up.’
‘What a difference nine years makes, as it is one of the strongest-performing shows for RTÉ One. The fact that both Brian and Julian are involved shows Shinawil were on to something back then. I am sure Twink is happy enough being a dedicated viewer.’
Twink gave the show her seal of approval last Sunday when she appeared in the audience with her prized dog, Teddy, and Rory Cowan from Mrs Brown’s Boys.
Showing there is no hard feelings about not making the current line-up, she said: ‘I think the set looks fabulous, the dancers are amazing and Brian Redmond is a huge star. I am delighted for Larry [Bass] the producer and I know it is going to be a huge success for years to come.’