Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Kristina Rihanoff will waltz to Bing Crosbie’s When Irish Eyes are Smiling on the BBC show Friday night.
O’Donnell, sporting a fresh coat of spray tan for the enormously popular TV contest, has been practicing with his Siberian partner for the past few weeks.
They will be one of six couples taking to the dance floor on Friday night. The first batch of celebrities include Peter Andre and Janette Manrara dancing the cha cha to Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera and Coronation Street actor Georgia May Foote jiving to Meghan Trainor’s Dear Future Husband with partner Giovanni Pernice.
O’Donnell, who is described by the BBC as “unexperienced in the world of dance, except for the occasional céilí in his teenage years”, has sold more than 10 million albums globally and has recorded 15 UK top 40 singles.
Scores from judges Len Goodman, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood will be carried over next week when the public will be asked to vote for their favourite celebrities.
O’Donnell (53) will hope his loyal fanbase in the UK will vote to keep him in the contest beyond the opening rounds.
