Jordan Dargan’s Emotional Exit from Dancing With The Stars
The glitz and glamour of the ballroom have seen another star depart, as The Apprentice contestant Jordan Dargan was visibly emotional following his elimination from Dancing With The Stars in the show’s semi-final. The popular contestant, who partnered with Rebecca Scott, expressed his deep disappointment at not making it to the grand finale, admitting he was “gutted” to miss out on the ultimate prize.
Next Sunday, the competition will heat up as four remaining celebrities battle it out for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. The finalists gearing up to showcase their skills are The Traitors Ireland star Paudie Moloney, singer Tolu Makay, Ireland AM host Eric Roberts, and Rose of Tralee winner Katelyn Cummins. These talented individuals have spent three months honing their dance routines and captivating audiences on the RTÉ One show.
In a poignant moment after his elimination, Jordan struggled to hold back tears as he spoke about his journey. “I’m not going to stand here and pretend I’m not gutted,” he confessed to co-hosts Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox. “You know, we’re so close, and I wanted it so, so bad. But look, I’ve had the time in my life.” He extended his gratitude to everyone involved, particularly his professional dance partner, Rebecca Scott.
“For Rebecca, you’ve helped me grow, not just as a dancer, as a person, just believing in myself and learning how to just go through life, even things don’t go your way, like tonight’s just learning to keep going, keep pushing and never give up,” Jordan shared, highlighting the profound personal growth he experienced. “So I’m gonna take that with me for life so amazing.”
Rebecca, in turn, spoke highly of Jordan’s dedication and spirit. “When you come across somebody that you can genuinely call a friend, coming out of an experience like this, you have worked so hard, I think you’ve learned a hell of a lot, and for me, you are a friend for life, and I’ve had the best time with you, so I’m so proud,” she stated, cementing their strong bond formed throughout the competition.
A Night of Double Dances and High Scores
The semi-final night presented an added challenge for the remaining five couples, who were required to perform two routines. After their individual performances, each pair was joined by a second professional dancer for a ‘Time Machine Trio’ dance.
Jordan and Rebecca kicked off their performances with a Cha Cha Cha to Livin’ Joy’s classic hit ‘Dreamer’. Their energetic display earned them a commendable 38 points. Judge Arthur Gourounlian praised their ability to capture the dance’s spirit, remarking, “I loved how you captured the spirit of this dance. I was in the club dancing with you.” Oti Mabuse added, “You’re coming back fighting. You were having fun with it.”
Following this, Jordan and Rebecca tackled a Charleston to The Beatles’ iconic track ‘Help!’, dancing alongside professional dancer James Cutler. Despite a strong performance that garnered 39 points, this second routine ultimately wasn’t enough to secure their place in the final.
The Road to the Final: A Glimpse at the Other Contenders
The evening also saw impressive performances from the other semi-finalists:
Paudie Moloney and Laura Nolan: The duo opened the show with an elegant American Smooth to ‘Cheek to Cheek’. Arthur Gourounlian described their performance as “smooth and joyful,” comparing it to “Fred and Ginger.” Brian Redmond noted that while the dancing was sophisticated, the hands could be worked on. Karen Byrne commented on Paudie’s “smile lights up the dance floor,” and Oti Mabuse found them “so likeable” and calming to watch. They scored 26 points.
Later, Paudie and Laura teamed up with Robert Rowiński for a Samba to Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’. Their lively and humorous routine had the audience in stitches, with Oti Mabuse admitting, “I never thought I’d see that. It was fun and carefree.” The trio scored 24 points.
Katelyn Cummins and Leonardo Lini: Rose of Tralee winner Katelyn Cummins and her partner Leonardo Lini delivered a powerful Charleston to ‘Charleston’ by Bob Wilson & His Varsity Rhythm Boys. Brian Redmond was so impressed he gave a standing ovation, stating, “What have just done? To be out there as a young woman as the Rose of Tralee and an apprentice electrician on International Woman’s Day. That was excellent.” They achieved a perfect score of 40 points.
Their second dance was a Samba to Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)’, with professional dancer Alex Vladimirov joining them. Arthur called it “iconic,” Brian noted they “met all the challenges,” Karen exclaimed “Stop the lights! Well done,” and Oti expressed her envy of Katelyn getting to embody Beyoncé. The trio scored 38 points.
Tolu Makay and Maciej Zięba: Singer-songwriter Tolu Makay and Maciej Zięba impressed with their Paso Doble to Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, earning 36 points. Arthur declared Tolu the “queen of Paso Doble,” Brian highlighted her energy, Karen praised her “powerhouse” performance and flexibility, and Oti commended her determination and use of the floor.
Their second dance, a Jive to Little Richard’s ‘Tutti Frutti’ with pro dancer Stephen Vincent, scored 35 points. Arthur found the jive “juicy,” Brian described it as a “beautiful ice cream sundae,” Karen likened Tolu to “Barbie in between two Ken dolls,” and Oti acknowledged her ability to keep up with the male dancers with great energy.
Eric Roberts and Arianna Favaro: Ireland AM host Eric Roberts and Arianna Favaro danced a vibrant Salsa to Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘Boogie Wonderland’, scoring 39 points. Arthur was impressed by Eric’s lifts, stating, “Wow – you smashed the lift. You owned it.” Brian praised him for nailing “three massive lifts.” Karen found their performance “funky. Deadly!,” and Oti declared it “Fantastic! I loved it – you nailed the big lift.”
Their final dance was a Quickstep to ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ by The Puppini Sisters, alongside Kylee Vincent. This routine secured them a perfect score of 40 points. Arthur described the dance as “smooth, charming and completely in control.” Karen called the trio’s performance “perfection. Beautiful,” and Oti added, “Eric, you are having a brilliant night. It was perfection.”
The stage is now set for the grand finale. Audiences can tune in on Sunday, 15 March, at 6:30 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player to witness which of the remaining three couples will be crowned the champions and lift the Glitterball Trophy.
