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...

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...

29/01/2026

Hitachi Europe Appoints Michele Fracchiolla as President

Michele Fracchiolla Succeeds Andrew Barr as President of EMEA region from April 1, 2026 London, January 29, 2026 Hitachi Europe Ltd. today announces the appoi...

29/01/2026

FOX Sports Unveils Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast Schedule

FOX Sports Unveils Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast Schedule Monumental Slate Features 340 Hours of Live First-Run Programming Across FOX Sports Platfo...

29/01/2026

AI Assistants Head into 2026 on a High Note: Comscore Reports Triple-Digit Growth on Mobile

AI Assistants Head into 2026 on a High Note: Comscore Reports Triple-Digit Growt...

29/01/2026

Broadcom confirms Arvato Systems status as a VCSP partner

Broadcom Confirms Arvato Systems' Status as a VCSP Partner Broadcom Partner Program Update Arvato Systems confirmed as authorized VMware Cloud Service Pr...

29/01/2026

Annette Malone appointed as Chief People Officer RT

RT has today announced that Annette Malone has been appointed to the role of Chief People Officer, RT following a public competition. As Chief People Officer...

28/01/2026

3 Easy Ways to Discover Music That Fits Your Moment on Spotify

Music discovery should feel intuitive and personal. That's why we're continuing to give you more control, so you can ask for what you want, shape what y...

28/01/2026

From $11B in 2025 Payouts to What We're Building for Artists in 2026

Today, Charlie Hellman, Spotify's Head of Music, shared the following note on the Spotify for Artists blog that the company paid out more than $11 billion t...

28/01/2026

MVP makes a tactical switch to Calrec Argo M

As demand for more complex live sports coverage grows, Balkan broadcast specialist MVP has upgraded its flagship HD1 progressive OB truck with the installation ...

28/01/2026

SES Acknowledges Fitch's Rating Action and Reiterates Deleveraging Plan

Luxembourg, January 26, 2026 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading space solutions company, acknowledges the credit rating action announced by Fitch to...

28/01/2026

VEON Notes Kyivstar Group Publication of Selected Full Year 2025 Financial Information

28 Jan 2026 VEON Notes Kyivstar Group Publication of Selected Full Year 2025 Fi...

28/01/2026

Rohde & Schwarz to host 2026 edition of its online event Demystifying EMC

Rohde & Schwarz to host 2026 edition of its online event Demystifying EMC Rohde & Schwarz invites the global EMC community to join a crucial discussion on pre...

28/01/2026

Stadtwerke Wolfhagen modernize customer management with AEP.EnergySuite from Arvato Systems

Stadtwerke Wolfhagen Modernize Customer Management with AEP.energysuite from Arv...

27/01/2026

Akamai and Yospace Deliver Seamless, Personalised Ad Experiences to Tens of Millions of ABEMA Users

Click for Japanese version Tokyo, Japan - January 27, 2026 - Akamai Technolo...

27/01/2026

B-LINE Is Here to Help: Backline Launches 24/7 Music Industry Mental Health & Crisis Support Line in Partnership with Spotify

Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading men...

27/01/2026

Netn Vega's Genre-Bending Sound Hits a Crossover Moment on Spotify's RADAR

With nearly 29 million monthly listeners and clear momentum on Spotify, Net n Ve...

27/01/2026

Clear-Com Empowers Reykjavik City Theatre with New Upgrades

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

27/01/2026

Australian Defence Force Secures Satellite Communications on SES IS-22

New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041 Luxembourg, January 13, 2026 - Satel...

27/01/2026

SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Hardinge and Kevin Fortune join series

Tuesday 27 January 2026 SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Ha...

27/01/2026

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

RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to support a dynamic programme of cultural events taking place across Ireland this February. From visual art, film, music, ...

26/01/2026

New Directed By' Series Explores the Making of Music Videos and Kicks Off With Maisie Peters

Music videos play a huge part in how fans connect with their favorite songs, but...

26/01/2026

Riedel and Media Tailor Deliver Unified Broadcast and AV Infrastructure Aboard Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas Cruise Ship

Wuppertal January 26, 2026 Riedel and Media Tailor Deliver Unified Broadcast a...

26/01/2026

VEON Unveils the New Beeline Uzbekistan Network Operations Center, Launches BuildX to Accelerate Software Development in Uzbekistan

26 Jan 2026 VEON Unveils the New Beeline Uzbekistan Network Operations Center, ...

26/01/2026

FIRST LOOK images released for Mark Gatiss' Bookish S2, as Ruth Codd joins cast

Bookish is created by and stars Mark Gatiss Images available HERE Following th...

26/01/2026

New Sky Original Series explores Entertainment Juggernaut, The X Factor

Monday 26 January 2026 New Sky Original Series explores Entertainment Juggernaut, The X Factor Sky today confirmed it has greenlit a premium, definitive docum...

26/01/2026

Sky confirmsmajorinvestment to transform Livingston campus, supporting thousands oflocaljobs

Monday 26 January 2026 Sky confirms major investment to transform Livingston ca...

26/01/2026

Software for Stable Data Management and Lasting Business Success in Uncertain Times

Software for Stable Data Management and Lasting Business Success in Uncertain Ti...

26/01/2026

RT publishes Register of External Activities for Q3/2025 (statistical summary)

RT is today publishing a statistical summary of the Register of External Activities for the third quarter of 2025. The RT Register of External Activities com...

24/01/2026

RT and Virgin Media Television kick off comprehensive free-to-air coverage of the 2026 Six Nations Championship

RT and Virgin Media Television kick off comprehensive free-to-air coverage of t...

23/01/2026

UEFA Women's EURO 2025 drives surge in ad-funded streaming as Yospace powers 6 billion one-to-one advertisements

Staines-upon-Thames, UK, 29 July, 2025 - Yospace, the global leader in Dynamic A...

23/01/2026

Introducing the Best New Artist 2026 Nominees

Spotify's annual Best New Artist celebration honors the rising stars whose talent, creativity, and dedication have propelled them to the music industry'...

23/01/2026

A Game-Changer for Caption & Subtitle QC - Now Integrated!

Paramount is transforming its operations by unifying the media supply chains of their top brands into a scalable global pipeline. This transformation enhances ...

23/01/2026

Should we automate or augment with AI?

Every delay costs. When a subtitle fails QC, even the smallest issue can mean missed deadlines, extra vendor costs, or frustrated teams. The new Accurate.Video ...

23/01/2026

SisterS returns to RT for second season

Find out where Sare and Suze are now on RT One and RT Player Thursday 29 January at 10.15pm Hit drama SisterS, created by, written by and starring real-life ...

23/01/2026

Sky appoints Lisa Clark as Commissioning Executive for SNL UK

Friday 23 January 2026 Sky appoints Lisa Clark as Commissioning Executive for SNL UK Lisa Clark headshot PNG (468KB) Lisa Clark joins Sky as Commissioning E...

23/01/2026

Oscar nomination for RT supported film Retirement Plan

RT is delighted to announce that the RT and F s ireann / Screen Ireland supported short film Retirement Plan has been nominated for Best Animated Short at th...

22/01/2026

Watch Ed Sheeran's Dublin Concert in a New Billions Club Live Film on Spotify

Last November, Ed Sheeran returned to his musical roots for an intimate, one-nig...

22/01/2026

Should we automate or augment AI?

Every delay costs. When a subtitle fails QC, even the smallest issue can mean missed deadlines, extra vendor costs, or frustrated teams. The new Accurate.Video ...

22/01/2026

Love is in the air! First Dates Ireland is back

Thursday 29 January 9:35pm on RT 2 and RT Player The dating show returns with something old, something new and a dater you may already know Thursday evenings...

22/01/2026

Rohde & Schwarz, Qualcomm, and Motorola demonstrate successful 5G Broadcast compatibility in Brazil

Rohde & Schwarz, Qualcomm, and Motorola demonstrate successful 5G Broadcast comp...

22/01/2026

Dalet Appoints Gwen Braygreen as Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer

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

21/01/2026

Backing Britain on the global stage: Sky becomes an official partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB

Wednesday 21 January 2026 Backing Britain on the global stage: Sky becomes an o...

21/01/2026

Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results Via Webcast

Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Resul...

21/01/2026

FilmLight releases Baselight v7

Baselight v7 brings colourists and post-houses smarter mattes, faster workflows and deeper control FilmLight, known for its detailed colour toolset and longsta...

21/01/2026

RT News announces new Washington Correspondent

RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of Jackie Fox as its new Washington Correspondent. Jackie is a multimedia journalist with RT News and has repor...

19/01/2026

Sky News reinvents News at Ten for the modern audience with The Wrap

Monday 19 January 2026 Sky News reinvents News at Ten for the modern audience with The Wrap Sky News today announces The Wrap, a bold evolution of its 10pm ou...