DWTS: Here’s how everyone got on in week five

Have your hankies at the ready, folks, as it’s Dedicated Dance Week on Dancing with the Stars.

It’s not all tears, however, as there will be no elimination this week. Hurrah!

That said, there’s still plenty at stake. The couple with the highest combined score from the judges and the public vote will earn immunity from the first Dance-Off of the series next week.

So without further ado, here’s how everyone got on…

Tolü Makay and Maciej Zięba

Tolü Makay kicked off the night, dedicating her Foxtrot with Maciej Zięba to her sister Timmy.

Dancing to Adele’s When We Were Young, the pair set an emotional tone for Dedicated Dance Week.

Head judge Oti Mabuse began the praise, stating: “It was beautiful. You were in frame the whole time. This was a great start to the show.”

While fellow judge Arthur Gourounlian agreed, adding:  “You ooze life. Every spin you took, every breath you took was so mesmerising. You shined tonight. Thank you for bringing the magic.”

She received 7 points from Brian Redmond, 8 from Karen Byrne, 9 from Oti, and 8 from Arthur, giving her a total of 32 points.

Philip Doyle and Daniela Roze

Philip Doyle honoured his mother, Una with a vibrant Samba alongside Daniela Roze. 

The pair danced to ABBA’s Dancing Queen, a song tied to a cherished family memory involving Philip’s late father, Eamonn.

Brian, however, was less impressed, offering some pointed criticism as he noted: “I think you danced to the wrong song, as the samba needed that much rescuing.”

Karen struck a more conflicted but ultimately positive note, adding: “You have the ability to do what you do wrong and make it look so right. I don’t know why I enjoyed it so much.”

The routine earned 4 from Brian, 5 from Karen, 4 from Oti and 6 from Arthur, for a total of 19.

Stephanie Kelly and Ervinas Merfeldas

Stephanie Kelly delivered a dramatic Paso Doble with Ervinas Merfeldas, dedicating the routine to her son Zach. 

They danced to Kygo’s Firestone, a song which Zach walked her down the aisle to.

“Everything for you came together,” shared Oti. “You built a really strong atmosphere. It had intention.”

While Arthur summed up his thoughts succinctly, stating: “One word for you: Olé.”

The strong performance earned 8s from Karen, Oti and Arthur, alongside a 6 from Brian, bringing their total to 30 points.

Katelyn Cummins and Leonardo Lini

Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins paid tribute to her parents, Noel and Siobhan, with an emotional Contemporary Ballroom routine alongside Leonardo Lini.

They danced to Never Enough by Kelly Clarkson, honouring their lifelong support, particularly with challenges she faced growing up with a hearing impairment.

“What a special moment, Katelyn, you’re an absolute star,” praised Karen.

Brian also commended her performance, adding: “What you managed to achieve tonight highlighted your superpower,” in reference to her hearing impairment.

Those glowing comments translated into a strong 35 points overall, with Brian scoring the routine an 8 and Karen, Oti and Arthur each awarding 9s.

Anne Cassin and Robert Rowiński

Anne Cassin remembered her late mother Nancy with a graceful American Smooth performed with Robert Rowiński. 

The pair danced to Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop, a song that evokes Anne’s childhood memories.

“That was such a beautiful dance. I think your mum is looking down on you with a big smile on her face,” shared Oti.

Arthur agreed, adding: “You are a beautiful human being inside and out, and the way you told your story was absolutely beautiful.”

Anne’s performance earned 6 points from Brian, 7 from Karen, 6 from Oti, and 6 from Arthur, giving her a total of 25 points.

Eric Roberts and Arianna Favaro

Eric Roberts dedicated his Tango to his nephew Oisín, who has cerebral palsy and autism. 

Dancing with Arianna Favaro to Coldplay’s Clocks, Eric celebrated Oisín’s inspiring spirit and their shared love of the band.

Brian began by noting the emotional impact: “The thing that really came across for me, Eric, was the power you take from your relationship with Oisín. You have come up a level tonight.”

Karen added her praise, saying: “I absolutely really liked this dance. From the beginning to the end, it was so cool, so slick.”

Eric scored 34 points in total, with Brian and Oti giving an 8, and Karen and Arthur giving a 9.

Jordan Dargan and Rebecca Scott

Jordan Dargan honoured his mother, Ruth with an American Smooth alongside Rebecca Scott. 

Dancing to Christy Moore’s The Voyage, the routine also paid tribute to his late grandmother.

Oti praised the performance, saying, “It was soft, it was elegant. That was it.”

While Arthur echoed the sentiment, adding, “To me, it was subtly breathtaking.”

Jordan’s stunning routine earned 9 from Brian and a perfect 10 from Karen, Oti, and Arthur, giving him a total of 39 points, the highest score of the season!

Niamh Kavanagh and Stephen Vincent

Niamh Kavanagh delivered a deeply moving American Smooth with Stephen Vincent, dedicating the dance to her nephew Daniel, who passed away in 2024. 

The pair danced to Elton John’s Daniel, honouring his courage and grace.

Karen was full of praise, saying: “Niamh, that was absolutely beautiful. The emotion was so real, so raw. That was your best dance yet.”

Brian added his own heartfelt tribute: “That was, for me, a masterclass in expression. And on a personal level, thank you for remembering the Daniels that exist in all our lives. Well done.”

Niamh walked away with 30 points in total, thanks to a 7 from Brian and Oti, followed by an 8 from Karen and Arthur.

Paudie Moloney and Laura Nolan

Paudie Moloney celebrated his ten grandchildren with a high-energy Jive alongside Laura Nolan. 

Dancing to Jailhouse Rock by The Blues Brothers, Paudie added a playful nod to his former life as a prison guard.

“You are the king of entertainment,” said Oti, “but for me, the kicks and flips weren’t happening.”

While Arthur admitted: “It didn’t have the Paudie energy I needed.”

It wasn’t enough to impress the panel this time as Paudie scored 11 points overall, with a 2 from Brian and Oti, a 4 from Karen and a 3 from Arthur.