Viewers shared high praise for Fair City’s Johnny Ward after he took part in Sunday night’s Dancing with the Stars, despite the loss of his dad on Saturday.
Johnny’s dad John had been in hospital battling cancer after being diagnosed in July.
However, the actor revealed that it was his dad’s wish for him to go on with the reality show.
“I was ready to leave Dancing With The Stars but my dad said please don’t pull out of the show, it’s my number one thing and getting me through this.”
“That’s why I decided to stay in,” he previously told The Sun.
Johnny and his dance partner Emily Barker went on to carry out an emotional performance for which they were scored 28 points by the judges.
Speaking after his dance the 31-year-old said: “It’s been a very difficult week. I want to say a big thank you to everyone: the doctors and nurses in Tallaght Hospital and all the people in Harold’s Cross hospice for trying to keep my father alive and thank you so much to Emily. I had a very difficult decision to make. I was in the rehearsal room and I was saying to Emily ‘What’s the point?’
“As much as I enjoy competing in this competition, it comes second and family comes first. I love competing in this competition but to go into the hospice and talk to him (his father) and he said ‘Please don’t disappoint me, stay in the competition.’ It’s a very difficult thing to do but we did it for him and I’m so happy.
“It’s not like competing against anyone, it’s a family. Everyone was sending me messages, not one person in this competition didn’t send me a message of support – that’s why we are like family.”
Fans and friends took to social media to commend his bravery.
Coppers the Musical costar Michele McGrath also paid tribute:
Anna Geary, who was watching from home shared a message on Instagram: 
Other viewers also took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the emotional performance.
Johhny revealed the devastating news of his dad’s passing on Twitter on Saturday.
Thank you all for your supportive messages regarding my father at this very difficult time.
He is now Pain free.
Thank you Dad for being the kindest ,most supportive, incredible father anyone could ever ask for.“They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind”.
Xxxx pic.twitter.com/oPswU9NRxK— Johnny Ward (@JohnnyWard7) March 2, 2019
