Brian Dowling has joined the line-up for RTÉ’s Dancing With The Stars

Keeley Ryan

Brian Dowling has joined the line-up for RTÉ’s Dancing With The Stars.

The new series of Dancing With the Stars kicks off on January 5.

And after much speculation this week, Brian confirmed on the Ray D’Arcy show tonight that he would be taking part on the RTÉ show.

Having risen to fame in the Big Brother house, Brian is about to take up a new residence on the dance floor.

Speaking about taking part in the show, Brian said he was “more nervous about this than anything else” he had ever done.

“I’m super excited because everyone knows the show, it’s on all over the world and to get to dance on one of the biggest shows on Irish television; is phenomenal,” he said. “But I am more nervous about this than anything else I’ve ever done as it’s based on your ability to learn a new skill and at my age I’m in my comfort zone…so I’m really pushing myself.”

“When I reached 40 I told myself I was going to start doing things I usually say no to and this is one of those things! But it’s great opportunity and I always think the older you get the less opportunities become available to you, so my new lease on life is to say yes a little more and do things that challenge me… so that’s the plan,” he continued.

The final two celebrities to complete the full line up will be revealed on Monday, 9 December on Today with Maura and Daithi on RTÉ One.

Airing on RTÉ One for 12 weeks from Sunday 5 January at 6.30pm, a total of 11 celebrities will partner with their professional dancers as they take on a brand new challenge and change their daily routines for dance routines. Each will be hoping to claim the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

The couples will tackle a different dance genre each week from the Paso Doble to the Viennese waltz and will have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing it live to the nation.

Returning this year is the fabulous panel of judges: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Julian Benson. They will cast their expert eyes over the dancers each week and judge them on their performances. Once again the celebrities and their dancers will be scored by both the judges and the viewing public at home.