Dancing with the Stars is back with a bang

Dancing with the Stars returned with a bang on Sunday night, with all 11 celebrities taking part in this year's competition making their debut on the dancefloor.

Joanna Donnelly, Rhys McClenaghan, Elaine Crowley, Kevin Dundon, Yasmin Seky, Kayleigh Trappe, Mickey Joe Harte, Jack Woolley, Gearóid Farrelly, Aishah Akorede and Danny O'Carroll gave it their all for their first appearances on the show. It certainly looks like the competition will be fierce for the current run of the glitteriest show on television.

The first episode, which didn't feature an elimination, kicked off with a showpiece as the celebrities, pro dancers, judges Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne, including presenters Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy impressed with an opening number to All I Wanna Do by Outasight.

Danny O'Carroll and Salome Chachua

The first couple to take to the dancefloor tonight were Mrs Brown's Boys star Danny O’Carroll and his pro partner Salome Chachua. The couple danced a smooth Foxtrot to Obviously by McFly.

New judge Karen Byrne said: "What a way to open up the show! Your frame in week one was very impressive."

Watch: Mrs. Brown's Boys star Danny O'Carroll danced a smooth Foxtrot to Obviously by McFly

We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Loraine Barry added: "I think you have a very good dancing frame. Lots of flow in the Foxtrot which is what you need. You used your feet well - I'd like to see more. You have potential!"

Brian Redmond said: "Danny O’Carroll, Buster Brady. I think you can bust a move!"

Danny and Salome scored a total of 22 points from the judges.

Yesmin Seky and Simone Arena

Next up was the actress Yasmin Seky and her pro partner Simone Arena. The duo danced a fast-paced and feelgood Samba to Oh Na Na by Camila Cabello, Myke Towers and Tainy.

Loraine said: "You need two ingredients for the Samba - rhythm and bounce. The hips were ticking! You need to get grounded and get more power."

Arthur commented: "Yasmin in the house! You brought the sass but I want more. You got this baby."

Brian said: "A little bit stiff but the energy, rhythm is there."

Watch: Yasmin Seky and her pro partner Simone Arena dance a fast-paced and feelgood Samba

Yasmin and Simone were awarded 25 points by the judges.

Gearóid Farrelly and Stephen Vincent

Comedian Gearóid Farrelly and his dance partner Stephen Vincent brought passion and dramatic attitude to their Tango, which they danced to Training Season by Dua Lipa.

Karen said: "You were both so in sync. I actually have goosebumps. That was just so special and you should be so proud of yourselves."

Loraine added: "That was authentic and clever. The fact that you swapped roles consistently was mind blowing to me. Normally it’s one leader and one follower."

Watch: Gearóid Farrelly and his dance partner Stephen Vincent brought passion to their Tango

Gearóid and Stephen received a total of 28 points from the judges.

Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov

Next up was Irish taekwondo Olympian Jack Woolley and his pro partner, Dancing with the Stars Ireland newcomer Alex Vladimirov, who danced an elegant Viennese Waltz with dizzying twists and turns to Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

Karen said: "I can see how relieved you are. I feel I could cry after seeing that. You don’t see that type of performance in Week 1. For your first dance I’m lost for words."

Arthur said: "When I met you first I thought you were shy and timid but I was wrong! I’m jealous – your musicality is en pointe! You have that je ne sais quoi!"

Watch: Jack Woolley and his pro partner danced an elegant Viennese Waltz

Jack and Alex were awarded a total score of 30 points.

Joanna Donnelly and Maciej Zieba

Weather presenter Joanna Donnelly made it rain on the dancefloor alongside her dance partner, Maciej Zieba, another new arrival on the show this series. The pair danced an upbeat Cha-cha-cha to It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls.

Loraine commented: "I’m always very happy to see true, classic Cha-cha steps. And I definitely saw that tonight. Now some of the action was missing inside the steps, but you gave it your best."

Brian added: "Cha-cha needs two things – energy and commitment. Give it more energy."

Watch: Joanna Donnelly made it rain on the dancefloor

Joanna and Maciej were awarded 15 points by the judges.

Mickey Joe Harte and Daniela Roze

The sixth couple to take to the dancefloor was Eurovision singer Mickey Joe Harte and new dancer Daniela Roze. The pair danced a powerful Paso Doble to Teenage Kicks by The Undertones.

Loraine said: "The musicality and characterisation was there. There was a bit too much bounce but it was strong enough – you made your mark."

Arthur said: "You have to be more in sync with Daniela. Keep doing what you’re doing."

Brian said: "A little bit Mickey Joe manic – perhaps less intensity next time. Not a bad start!"

Watch: Mickey Joe Harte and new dancer Daniela Roze rocked the dancefloor

Mickey Joe and Daniela scored a total of 19 points.

Aishah Akorede and Robert Rowiński

Former Miss Universe Ireland, Aishah Akorede and her pro partner Robert Rowiński dazzled with a fast and flowing Quickstep to Stargazing by Myles Smith.

Arthur said: "Elegant meets energy! You were gliding with precision and speed. Just relax, because overall the sky is the limit for you!"

Loraine said: "It was absolutely beautiful. Your posture, your position, your poise. I loved it, I really did."

Watch: Aishah Akorede and her pro partner Robert Rowiński dazzled with a fast and flowing Quickstep

Aishah and Robert scored a total of 29 points.

Kevin Dundon and Rebecca Scott

Celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and new professional dancer Rebecca Scott took to the dancefloor with an elegant American Smooth to Everybody Eats When They Come to My House by John Lithgow.

Brian said: "All icing but no cake for me. It was sweet, cute and fun but it needs a little more work. Keep smiling."

Arthur: "I’ll come to your house any day if you cook and dance like this. It wasn’t perfect, but you had the moves, you had the style, and the only way is up baby!"

Watch: Kevin Dundon and new professional dancer Rebecca Scott on the dancefloor

Kevin and Rebecca scored a total of 17 points.

Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas

Social media star Kayleigh Trappe and her pro partner Ervinas Merfeldas danced a fast and fun Jive to Yes by Merry Clayton.

Karen said: "Halfway through I wanted to join you! Overall it was very slick. I loved it."

Brian commented: "There was plenty of go in the show, you just need to be neat in the feet. Plenty of energy. If you tidy up those feet you never know how far you might go!"

Watch: Kayleigh Trappe and her pro partner Ervinas Merfeldas danced a fast and fun Jive

Kayleigh and Ervinas were awarded 28 points by the judges.

Elaine Crowly and Denys Samson

Ireland AM presenter Elaine Crowley and her partner Denys Samson glided around the dancefloor with a Waltz to Three Times a Lady by The Commodores.

Loraine said: "It was so beautiful to watch. It’s a very hard dance to do, but your standing position was really very good."

Arthur said: "Graceful and elegant. You put a spell on the ballroom and I couldn’t take my eyes off you. But I know you, and I can’t wait to see a different side to you!"

Watch: Elaine Crowley and her partner Denys Samson glided around the dancefloor

Elaine and Denys scored a total of 23 points.

Rhys McClenaghan and Laura Nolan

The final couple to dance tonight was the Olympic gold medalist and gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan, who danced a hip swinging, gravity defying salsa to Head & Heart by Joel Corry featuring MNEK.

Arthur said: "Rhys, It’s not every day I have a gold medalist doing the salsa in front of me. You were having the best time of your life. Oh la la! My heart goes BOOM!"

Brian said: "It was like a trip to Funderland – everything was in there. Upside down, flipping around, spinning!"

Karen added: "Of course my expectations were high, but what a way to finish the show tonight! It’s like you were born a dancer."

Watch: Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan are top of the leaderboard

Rhys and Laura were awarded a total of 31 points.

The glitz and glamour will continue on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player next Sunday, 12 January at 6:30pm.

Dancing with the Stars is back with a bang

More stories on

Read Next