It’s heave-ho for Mickey Joe Harte as Dancing with the Stars (RTÉ One, Sunday 6.30pm) reaches its first elimination night. To the surprise of nobody, a struggling Mickey Joe receives his P45 from the voting public – and that despite a noticeable improvement on a flailing first two weeks on the show.
His foxtrot with pro partner Daniela Roze scores a none-too-shabby 28 points, and he is praised by the judges. “Finally the dancer has arrived,” says Arthur Gourounlian.
Arrived but also exiting. After a forgettable fortnight, the introduction of sudden jeopardy ratchets up the tension, and Harte looks genuinely disappointed (though not at all shocked) as he learns he’s cha cha cha-ing into the sunset.
“It’s been great craic,” says the Donegal Eurovision singer. “I made so many friends. I’m disappointed for Daniela – it’s her first year.”
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Harte may be for the high jump, but other contestants are growing into the contest. Actor Yasmin Seky tops the leader board on the night, scoring 36 with Simone Arena for her Charleston to Meghan Trainor and T-Pain’s, Been Like This. “The flapper girl in full flap,” enthuses judge Loraine Barry. “Boom – you left a mark tonight.”
So, too, does tae kwon do Olympian Jack Woolley, who revealed that he had lost confidence following social media comments about his dancing. “It’s been playing on me all week,” he tells an audience that includes Father Ted star Pauline McLynn, along to cheer him on. He frets in vain, however, and scores a knockout 33.
Some stragglers have started to emerge and it is telling that they have responded to the DWTS challenge in very different ways. Chef Kevin Dundon has been dad dancing his way to the bottom of the scorecard with a string of wobbly turns – but he’s having the time of his life and doesn’t seem bothered about any negativity.
By contrast, TV presenter Elaine Crowley is mortified when she mucks up her salsa with Denys Samson, which includes a number of challenging lifts.
“I’m afraid of heights – it’s a bit of an issue when I’m up there as you can imagine.” The unfortunate Crowley is horrified all over again when Samson picks her up and carries her across the studio to be interviewed. “Nobody needed to see that,” she gasps. “It’s a family show.”
Then there is Harte. He’s dancing to Too Sweet by Hozier. He gives it his all and finishes covered in sweat. Sadly, it is – to paraphrase Ireland’s most famous manbun – all too bittersweet, and he’s the first to leave.
Next week, the show’s traditional Movie Night will come around, but there will be no Wild at Harte, with moist Mickey having definitively and comprehensively left the building.
