Nicky Byrne and Amanda Byram to tango as ‘Dancing’ hosts

Westlife star and 2fm presenter Byrne is no stranger to the dancefloor, while Byram is making her return to Irish television after almost 16 years.

She said she was delighted to be working on Dancing With the Stars, as she’s been looking for the right project to facilitate her return.

When she was offered the chance to get involved, “it was literally a no-brainer for me”, she told Ryan Tubridy on his RTÉ radio show.

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity over the years to come back to Ireland to host shows,” she said, adding that the timing has never been right.

“It’s one of my favourite shows on telly. It’s such an amazing format, and it’s such a well-loved show that I didn’t even have to think twice, to be honest with you.”

Byrne previously donned his dancing shoes for the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, in which he made it to week 10.

“I am ready and delighted to dust off my Cuban heels and work with Amanda, the judges, and all the celebs, in what I believe will be an incredibly exciting show for Irish TV,” he said.

Byrne said his own experience as a contestant means he knows what the celebs will be feeling when they dance for the judges each week.

“It’s a very strange feeling, because you work your absolute ass off all week,” he said. “Then, on a Sunday night they can say ‘ah your posture’s not great, and your fingers aren’t straight and your legs are bent’ and you’re thinking: ‘This is absolutely killing me here.’

“I can’t wait to get involved in this; it’s like going to the Oscars every Sunday night.”

The show will air for 12 weeks on RTÉ One from Sunday, January 8, starting at 6.30pm. The celebrity contestants must master different dance styles, from the cha-cha to the mambo and the tango, with just seven days to perfect the routine before performing live for the nation.

Fans of the show can get the behind-scenes gossip from the judges and the dancers with Can’t Stop Dancing, hosted by Bláthnaid Treacy on Friday nights at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.