Dancing with the Stars contestant Denise McCormack has opened up about this week’s impending eliminations, saying it will be “awful” to lose someone as everyone has become so close.
For the past two weeks, stars have taken to the dance floor without fear of elimination, however, this will all change on Sunday’s show as this week marks the first week of eliminations.
The Red Rock star, who received the highest score along with her partner last week, has said the atmosphere has become “fiercer” because everyone knows what’s at stake – but everyone is still looking after each other.
“It will be awful – and to think we have to go through that every week,” she told RTE Entertainment. “We’ve been each other’s fans; we’ve been each other’s support network.
“I’m very conscious that everyone is putting themselves through the grinder. We’re constantly checking in with each other – ‘Are you alright? How are you feeling?’. We’re not in our comfort zone; we’re not doing what we’re trained to do in life. It’s a really frightening thing to do.”
Having watched BBC’s Dancing with the Stars over the years, Denise admits that she found the emotional aspect of performing very surprising.
“I remember watching it and all the contestants, they become like a close-knit group and their emotions are very high,” she said.
“I remember thinking that’s [over-the-top]. Now that I’m in it, the emotion has been the most shocking thing for me.
“I remember going out last week – I actually feel a bit emotional talking about it – and my family was in the audience. I was choked up when I stood on those steps. I don’t know what it does, and I haven’t worked it out yet, but I think it’s a concoction of everything. It’s very feral, almost. You’re back to basics.”
Catch the first round of DWTS eliminations this Sunday on RTÉ One at 6.30pm.
