Rory Cowan has 'no regrets' after elimination from Dancing With The Stars

Jillian Bromwich with former Mrs Brown’s Boys star Rory Cowan

Former Mrs Brown’s Boys star Rory Cowan says he has “no regrets” after becoming the first contestant to be eliminated from Dancing With The Stars.

As Storm Isha raged outside the Dancing With The Stars studio in Dublin, the show continued on as normal as 11 of Ireland’s well-known celebrities battled it out to stay in the competition.

Rory and his dance partner Jillian Bromwich became the first to be eliminated from Dancing with the Stars tonight. The pair had the lowest number of votes combined from the first three episodes.

Speaking after they were voted off, Rory said he was “delighted” with himself as he announced his retirement from showbiz.

He said: “I’m delighted with myself that I did the show. No regrets at all. I loved it.”

Jillian added: “I’m very proud of you. You did your very best and that is all I can ask.”

Speaking after the show, Rory said he has a one-year contract with Fair City and after that, he will disappear from our screens.

Earlier in the night, Rory failed to impress judges Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian, and Loraine Barry with his Salsa to Macarena by Los del Rio. Scoring just 13 points, the judges were critical of their performance.

Loraine said: “Lots of steps, lots of rhythm, lots of timing and you didn’t go wrong, which is very good! But the hips – you forgot to bring the hips tonight.”

Arthur said: “It was like the weather outside the studio tonight. I wish you embraced it a little bit more because you have the musicality.”

Brian added: “It needed a lot more hips… You gave us great entertainment.”

2FM host and TV presenter Laura Fox and her partner Denys Samson opened the show as they danced a Paso Doble to Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmeralda.

Loraine said: “You certainly know your role here in the Paso Doble – the using of the skirt was excellent… all the way through… I’d like a little bit more commitment – 100% weight on each foot.”

Arthur said: “You beat the paso doble so hard. Your facial expressions were saying that I have this, I need this, I want this!”

Brian added: “The one thing I was delighted to see tonight is that you as didn’t misunderstand the guidance and information we gave you last week. The characterisation of that Paso Doble was spot on from start to finish.”

Laura and Denys scored 23 points.

Jockey Davy Russell was back with his partner Kylee Vincent, who was ill last week. The pair danced a Samba to Iko Iko (My Bestie) Justin Wellington featuring Small Jam Break.

Arthur said: “I have to be really honest – it looked like a little dad dancing for me… you kind of struggled a little bit but I love the fact that you give 100% and you try.”

Brian said: “For me the problem was to do with the hips – the movement was there but it was forced – it didn’t have that natural fluidity to it. But I have to give you credit because you’ve really bought into this process… but I hope you haven’t fallen at that first hurdle.”

Loraine added: “The samba is extremely difficult. You did your best… a great, tremendous effort.”

Davy and Kylee scored 12 marks in total.

The third couple to dance tonight were singer David Whelan and his partner Salome Chachua. They danced a Viennese Waltz to Good by John Legend.

The judges were very positive about David and Salome’s dance. Brian said: “Immaculate… a really good Viennese waltz.”

Loraine said: “So beautiful… that’s the way to a Viennese waltz and the way to my heart. I love that it was so smooth.”

Arthur added: “It’s week three and you come out and do this… this was art! I feel like you have dance in your blood.”

David and Salome scored 24 points.

The fifth celebrity to take to the dancefloor for week three was former Miss World Rosanna Davison joined her pro partner Stephen Vincent. Their Quickstep was danced to Things by Robbie Williams and Jane Horrocks.

Loraine said: “What really caught my eye was the lightness across the floor… the dancing was very beautiful, well done.”

Arthur said: “I absolutely love to see this side of you. I know you had a little slip there but you carried on, you had a big smile on your face… huge respect, well done.”

Brian said: “When you did get going, it was lovely, it was light… you did recover really well… I actually quite liked that quickstep.”

Rosanna and Stephen scored 20 points.

The sixth couple to perform were former newsreader Eileen Dunne partnered with Robert Rowiński.

They took to the dancefloor with a Waltz to Try to Remember Liza Minnelli.

Loraine said: “It was delicate and wonderful. You embraced the character. Overall I thought it was gorgeous. It was so very beautiful.”

Arthur said: “I can tell how much this dance meant to you tonight… It was beautiful.”

Speaking afterwards, Eileen revealed she only told Mary Kennedy that she had signed up to the show, describing her as her “mentor”.

And she teased that Anne Doyle should sign up to the show.

Eileen and Robert scored X from the judges.

Virgin Media host Katja Mia and her pro partner Ervinas Merfeldas as they took to the floor and performed a Cha Cha Cha to Cuff It by Beyoncé. Katja is a massive Beyoncé fan – she went to her concert in Cardiff last year and was left starstruck after the singer wished her a happy 27th birthday from the stage.

Brian said: “We’ve seen you doing two Latin dancers… from the top of your head to your knees, you are exemplary.”

Loraine said it was a “disco inspired cha-cha-cha… Great timing as well. I thought that was fabulous.”

But she added that she would’ve like to see more shuffle in the dance.

Arthur said: “You are truly gifted.”

Katja and Ervinas scored 24 from the judges – shooting them straight to the top of the leaderboard.

The eighth couple to perform were social media star Miriam Mullins and her partner Montel Hewson. Their Foxtrot was danced to Heaven by Niall Horan.

Loraine said: “You did it quite well, I would have liked more of the foxtrot… a little bit more dancing please, but well done.”

Arthur said: “I think that song was perfect for you ‘cos I was in heaven watching you. You have this beautiful musicality… it was angelic.”

Brian said: “The movement at times need to be a bit more fluid… foxtrot’s difficult and that wasn’t bad.”

Miriam and Montel were awarded 20 points from the judges.

Ninth to dance, actor Shane Quigley Murphy showcased his skills as he danced a Jive with his partner Laura Nolan to All of These Nights by Tom Grennan.

Loraine said: “Together tonight, your energy – you worked off each other tremendously well – super.”

Arthur said: “You brought me the Energizer bunny tonight! You went for it… your energy, your kicks, your footwork – you had it all. Tonight was the first time I see that you are in it to win it, baby!”

Brian said: “These fast dances, you get a little bit jiggly in the shoulders… but a powerful jive.”

Shane and Laura received 24 points from the judges, joining both David and Katja as joint leaders of tonight’s leaderboard.

Drag star Blu Hydrangea and their partner Simone Arena were the tenth couple to dance tonight. They danced the Tango to Applause by Lady Gaga.

Loraine said: “Fierce and fiery… it really, really was – a lot of power, a lot of steps… and all in a beautiful frame… it was perfect.”

Arthur said: “I lived for that tango – Mamma Mia! It was electrifying – the passion between you too on the dancefloor was electrifying!”

Brian added: “The power and the energy – the feet weren’t sludgy tonight – it’s all go, go Gaga!”

The pair received 25 points from the judges – getting them right up to the top of the leaderboard ahead of Katja and Shane.

The final celebrity to take to the dancefloor tonight was Paralympian Jason Smyth and his pro partner Karen Byrne who was back in studio having been ill last week. The couple danced a Classic Ballroom to Show Me What I’m Looking For by Carolina Liar.

The couple wanted to showcase Jason’s disability and for viewers at home, part of their dance were blurred to show Jason’s 10 per cent vision on a daily basis.

The performance brought tears to pro dancer Karen who broke down after the dance.

Loraine said: “You two work so well together. Tonight, Jason, you really were the supporting role there. You out up a beautful frame and oh my goodness what a superb lift.”

Arthur said:” It was so powerful of you to let the whole country see what you go through in day to day life.”

Brian added that the performance was the “highlight” of the seven seasons on Dancing With The Stars.

“For me it was such an important piece of coming onto the show. Trying to bring people into my world, like I can’t even see the camera.”

Karen added that Jason inspires her every day.

Jason and Karen scored 24 points from the judges, leaving them joint second on the leaderboard with Katja and Shane. Rory told us: “I have a contract with Fair City for this year and anything else I’m asked to do and there have been a few things I’ve been asked to do, I’m finished.

“I’m actually going to enjoy myself now and have fun,” he said.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.