Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Rhys McClenaghan and Laura Nolan crowned Dancing with the Stars champions

17/03/2025

After 11 spectacular shows filled with glitz and glamour, highs and lows and captivating dances along the way, Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan have been crowned the winners of Dancing with the Stars 2025.

Commenting on winning series 8 and taking home the coveted Glitterball trophy, Rhys said: I don't have any words!

The final four couples to reach the final after an outstanding season were Danny O'Carroll and Salome Chachua, Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas, Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov and Rhys McClenaghan and Laura Nolan.

The grand finale of series eight of Dancing with the Stars opened with a dazzling number from the pro-dancers, finalists and judges to Everybody Dance by Cedric Gervais x Franklin feat. Nile Rodgers.

The competition kicked in as the couples took to the floor for their first dance of the evening; the Judges' Choice, which tasked each couple with performing a routine from a previous week.

First on the floor tonight was Mrs. Brown's Boys actor, Danny O'Carroll and his partner Salome Chachua. The pair danced their Charleston from week two to Don't Blame it On Me by Michael Bubl .

Judge Loraine Barry said: I feel the trust between you and Salome has built up. You have started a brilliant final tonight.

Judge Arthur Gourounlian said: You absolutely smashed it, you took it to another level. That was electrifying, exhilarating and simply unforgettable.

Judge Brian Redmond said: More fluid, more energetic, more entertainment, great start!

Judge Karen Byrne said: You deserve your place in the final. It was slick, you looked like you were enjoying yourself!

Danny and Salome scored 39 points from the judges.

Next up, Taekwondo athlete, Jack Woolley and his pro-partner Alex Vladimirov threw it back to week five with their Dedicated Dance to Jack's friend Kellie Harrington: an American Smooth to Grace by The Wolfe Tones.

Arthur said: Every week you come here you shine bright. This wasn't just a great dance, this will go down in DWTS history as the best ever! Normally I would say J'adore, but for the weekend that's in it I will say: is gr liom!

Brian said: Big smiley head on me! I liked this dance the first time around but I absolutely lvoed it tonight.

Karen said: You really move people with this dance. I'm still not the better of seeing you dance to this song again. I feel this dance sums up your journey, and signifies such an amazing partnership that you and Alex have.

Loraine said: It was gentle, pure and heartwarming. This dance will always be an iconic performance on Dancing with the Stars.

Jack and Alex scored 40 points from the judges.

Social media star Kayleigh Trappe and her partner Ervinas Merfeldas were hoping to recapture the judges' adoration a second time around with their routine from Love Week, a Salsa to Christina Aguilera's Let There Be Love.

Brian said: Tonight, it's all or nothing and you've certainly come out giving it your all. You are certainly fighting and deserving of this place in the final.

Karen said: This dance shows how much you've grown. I think you should be so proud of yourself, you've grown immensely the two of you together.

Loraine said: Tonight you've come out shining. You've gone into those lifts with less fear. This is a good night for you.

Arthur: To me you have found your wings and you are flying. You have proved that you belong here in the final. I'm so beyond proud of you.

Kayleigh and Ervinas scored 38 points from the judges.

Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan reprised his Movie Week role of Spider-Man, as he and his professional partner Laura Nolan danced the Charleston to the iconic theme tune.

Karen said: You're the real life Irish Spiderman! This routine from beginning to end, it was pure and utter perfection.

Loraine said: Absolutely exhilarating from start to finish. Is there any chance they can do it again?

Arthur said: Your power is mesmerising. From gymnast to dancer, to me you have movement and rhythm in your DNA!

Brian said: You played the hero tonight but you're also an Olympic champion. You have become a real life superhero. Exceptional.

Rhys and Laura scored 40 points from the judges.

After the voting lines opened, it was down to business, as each couple performed their Showdance a freestyle performance that allowed them to combine different dance styles and showcase the creativity and skills they developed throughout their Dancing with the Stars journey.

Danny O'Carroll and Salome Chachua danced to Rock this Party by Bob Sinclair.

Loraine said: You rocked it, you got the party going. That was truly slick.

Arthur said: You have proven time and time again you're a force to be reckoned with. This is an incredible party I'm delighted to have been a part of.

Brian said: The Showdance is generally about summing up your journey on the show, but I think you summed yourself up as a person. It was full of determination, character and pure honest hard work.

Karen said: I feel you've set the standard now for the Showdances.

Danny and Salome scored a total of 37 from the judges.

Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov performed to Years & Years' version of Lady Gaga's anthem The Edge of Glory.

Arthur said: I truly have no words left to say. You will be remembered forever on this show.

Brian said: You've got that skillset, that Taekwondo athlete in you, and you've waited until the final to show us that. I clapped all the way through it, I don't think I've ever done that! You have been phenomenal.

Karen said: We expected it to be unbelievable. It was brilliant!

Loraine: There was so much electricity. Everything means the world to you, you give it your all. I can't believe you put in so much salsa, tan
LINK: https://about.rte.ie/2025/03/17/rhys-mcclenaghan-and-laura-nolan-crown...
See more stories from rte

Europe Stories

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

09/03/2026

RT supports launch of The Replay' Bringing the Voice of Mchel Muircheartaigh Back to Irish Homes and reconnecting lost memories

A powerful new national initiative supporting people living with dementia launch...

06/03/2026

Ten Years On, South African Hip-Hop Artist Kwesta Reflects on DaKAR II'

Ten years after its release, South African hip-hop artist Kwesta's DaKAR II is still making waves. With 51.8 million streams on Spotify, the album continues...

06/03/2026

VEON and JazzWorld Advance Pakistan's Digital Financial Future with Acquisition of TPL Insurance

06 Mar 2026 VEON and JazzWorld Advance Pakistan's Digital Financial Future ...

06/03/2026

Teaser revealed for Saturday Night Live UK

Friday 6 March 2026 Teaser revealed for Saturday Night Live UKTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy options and select Accept All'. Privacy...

06/03/2026

F1: Bringing real Formula 1 sound to cinema

Discover how the F1 sound team turned a real Grand Prix into a cinematic experience. Director Joseph Kosinski and his team worked directly with the Formula On...

06/03/2026

Arvato Systems Joins Initiative D21 e. V.

Arvato Systems Joins Initiative D21 e. V. Shaping digital transformation together Collaboration in Germanys largest network for the digital society Membersh...

06/03/2026

ABC clients recognised in latest TAG certification release, reinforcing industry trust in digital advertising

The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) is a global initiative dedicated to c...

06/03/2026

Death of John McHugh

We are deeply saddened to hear the very sad news of the death of our friend and colleague, John McHugh. John was an exceptionally talented creative leader who s...

06/03/2026

A Nation Holds Its Breath Again

First exclusive look at RT 's promo as Ireland prepare to take on Czechia Every Moment, Every Generation https://youtu.be/2ijo96EadLU 36 years after Geor...

05/03/2026

Spotify's Creator Milestone Awards Honor the Latest Slate of Record-Breaking Podcasts

A little over a year ago, Spotify introduced the quarterly Creator Milestone Awa...

05/03/2026

Rohde & Schwarz enables rapid validation of next-gen Wi-Fi 8 networking platforms, including 5x5 MIMO capabilities

Rohde & Schwarz enables rapid validation of next-gen Wi-Fi 8 networking platform...

05/03/2026

Rohde & Schwarz acquires Software Radio Systems (SRS), specialists in software defined mobile communications solutions

Rohde & Schwarz acquires Software Radio Systems (SRS), specialists in software d...

05/03/2026

Last chance to join the conversation shaping the Future of DAM

5. March 2026 Radmila Stoltz In March, Reimagining DAM 2026 will welcome an extraordinary group of industry leaders who are defining the next era of Digital...

05/03/2026

CMAT wins RT Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2025

Celebrating 21 Years of the RT Choice Music Prize RT Choice Music Prize In association with IMRO and IRMA RT Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2...

05/03/2026

Sky News secures ninth News Channel of the Year award as Yalda Hakim, Yousra Elbagir and Mollie Malone honoured at RTS Awards

Thursday 5 March 2026 Sky News secures ninth News Channel of the Year award as ...

05/03/2026

Sky Sports launches first ever nationwide creator competition to find a Grid Insider for the 2026 Formula 1 season

Thursday 5 March 2026 Sky Sports launches first ever nationwide creator competi...

05/03/2026

Harmonic Accelerates Streaming and Broadcast Transformations at the 2026 NAB Show

SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 5, 2026 - At the 2026 NAB Show, Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT)...

05/03/2026

Comscore and Yahoo DSP Partner to Advance CTV Political Advertising with Proximic Political Audiences

Comscore and Yahoo DSP Partner to Advance CTV Political Advertising with Proximi...

04/03/2026

Spotify A/Presenta Brings Fans Closer to Artists' Creative Process in Latin America, Starting With ROSALA

For many fans, a song's backstory can be just as compelling as the final pro...

04/03/2026

Spotify Kicks Off Our 20th Anniversary at SXSW With a Celebration of Artists, Creators, and Fans

In 2006, Spotify was founded on the belief that technology could bring artists a...

04/03/2026

Spotify and Coca-Cola Saddle Up for a Rhinestone Cowboy Experience at the Houston Rodeo

Spotify is back on the ground for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and we&#...

04/03/2026

Spotify Doubles Down on Investments in Australian Fan Discovery of Homegrown Aussie Talent

Spotify had an energizing week in Sydney, Australia, filled with powerful conver...

04/03/2026

FKA twigs and Jordan Hemingway Explore the Making of HARD' in Episode Two of Directed By'

Earlier this year, we launched Directed By, a documentary-style series that pull...

04/03/2026

KT and Rohde & Schwarz to showcase AI-enhanced radio transmission performance

KT and Rohde & Schwarz to showcase AI-enhanced radio transmission performance In a joint 6G AI proof-of-concept demonstration, the CMX500 one-box tester from ...

04/03/2026

SES publishes 2025 Annual Report

Luxembourg, 3 March 2026 - SES S.A. has today published its 2025 Annual Report, following the announcement of the company's full year financial results for ...

04/03/2026

Transforming Africa's Future Farmers: Satellite-Enabled IoT Powers Data-Driven Agribusinesses

Luxembourg, March 3, 2026 - SES, a leading space solutions company, along with I...

04/03/2026

VEON Partners with GSMA Innovation Fund to Accelerate Digital Innovation in Pakistan and Bangladesh

04 Mar 2026 VEON Partners with GSMA Innovation Fund to Accelerate Digital Innov...

04/03/2026

VEON's Beeline Uzbekistan and Rakuten Symphony Partner for Open RAN, AI Collaboration

04 Mar 2026 VEON's Beeline Uzbekistan and Rakuten Symphony Partner for Open...

04/03/2026

Sky Sports unveils plans for 2026 Formula 1 coverage

Wednesday 4 March 2026 Sky Sports unveils plans for 2026 Formula 1 coverage Sky Sports is preparing for one of the most highly anticipated F1 seasons in recen...

03/03/2026

How Multi-Format Readers' Are Redefining Reading in the UK's National Year of Reading

For many, finding time or headspace to pick up a book can feel out of reach, but...

03/03/2026

Rohde & Schwarz and Realtek demonstrate first test solution for Bluetooth LE High Data Throughput (HDT)

Rohde & Schwarz and Realtek demonstrate first test solution for Bluetooth LE Hi...

03/03/2026

Clear-Com Supplies Cloud-based Communications System for SaxaVord Spaceport

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......

03/03/2026

Full Year 2025 Results

Luxembourg, 2 March 2026 -- SES S.A. fully consolidates Intelsat from 17 July 2025 and announces financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025 FY25 Pe...

03/03/2026

RT is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this March

RT is proud to support a rich and diverse programme of arts and cultural events taking place across Ireland throughout March 2026. This month brings a remarkab...

03/03/2026

VEON and MeetKai Expand Collaboration to Explore Sovereign AI Infrastructure Partnerships

03 Mar 2026 VEON and MeetKai Expand Collaboration to Explore Sovereign AI Infra...

03/03/2026

Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac land first ever live commentary gig exclusively on Sky Sports for Wrexham vs Swansea

Tuesday 3 March 2026 Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac land first ever live commentary ...

03/03/2026

The Dyers Caravan Park reopens for a second season after a hit launch on Sky

Tuesday 3 March 2026 The Dyers' Caravan Park reopens for a second season after a hit launch on Sky The Dyers' Caravan Park JPEG (510KB) Sky books a ...

03/03/2026

Vyve Broadband Selects Harmonic for Network Modernization

Harmonic's cOS Virtualized Broadband Platform Simplifies Network Operations, Lowers Hardware Dependency and Enables Seamless DOCSIS and Fiber Growth SAN JO...

03/03/2026

Comscore to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

Comscore to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial ResultsRESTON, VA, March 3, 2026 Comscore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner for plannin...

03/03/2026

2026-01-30

Self-taught on iMovie, Hanagami transitioned to Final Cut Pro in 2009, discovering that professional tools could give him full creative control over how his wor...

03/03/2026

RT Media Sales: Spry Finance renews Marty In The Morning lyric fm sponsorship for a fourth year

RT Media Sales has announced Spry Finance has renewed it's sponsorship of M...

02/03/2026

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates FR1-FR3 carrier aggregation, advancing 6G readiness

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates FR1-FR3 carrier aggregation, advancing 6G readiness Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have reached another pivotal ...

02/03/2026

aconnic and Arqit join forces to present the first quantum-safe industrial OT security gateway firewall at Mobile World Congress 2026

aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, and Arqit Quantum Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQQ, A...