The Green Post Ireland
Olympic rower Philip Doyle has been eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, falling just short of a semi-final place after Orchestra Night on RTÉ One.
Doyle and his professional partner Daniela Roze landed in the bottom two once judges’ scores were combined with the public vote. They faced singer-songwriter Tolü Makay and Maciej Zięba in the fourth dance-off of the season, bringing an energetic night of live orchestral performances to a tense conclusion.
Despite a spirited performance, Doyle’s journey ended one week shy of the semi-finals.
Jive Not Enough to Secure Survival
Performing a Jive to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, Doyle and Roze earned 31 points from the judges. While the routine delivered pace and enthusiasm, it wasn’t enough to keep them clear of danger in a tightly contested leaderboard.
Tolü Makay, by contrast, topped the night with a flawless 40 for her Charleston to Where Is My Husband? by Raye — the first perfect score of the evening. That performance placed her firmly among the frontrunners heading into the semi-final.
The other couples delivered strong showings as well. Jordan Dargan and Rebecca Scott scored 37 for their Tango, matched by Eric Roberts and Arianna Favaro in Contemporary Ballroom. Katelyn Cummins and Leonardo Lini impressed with a Salsa worth 35, while Paudie Moloney and Laura Nolan received 24 for their Viennese Waltz.
Orchestra Night Raises the Stakes
The theme added a heightened sense of occasion. All routines were performed live alongside the RTÉ Concert Orchestra under conductor Gavin Murphy, with vocals from Susan McFadden and Ashton Jones.
In a first for the series, the remaining couples also competed in an ‘Orchestra-thon’ dance marathon to Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven, with bonus points added to the scoreboard. The marathon element intensified the competition and tightened margins going into the public vote.
A Grateful Exit
After his elimination, Doyle reflected positively on the experience.
“I’ve had a blast, way more fun than I thought I’d ever have. It was fantastic. The team is amazing,” he said.
The former Olympic athlete consistently brought energy and commitment to the ballroom, earning praise throughout the season for his willingness to step outside his sporting comfort zone.
Semi-Final Showdown Ahead
With six couples now reduced to five, next week’s semi-final will feature a “Dancing through the Decades” special, raising the technical and performance demands even further.
Dancing with the Stars airs Sundays at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, as the race for the Glitterball Trophy moves into its decisive stage.
