Philip Doyle wants to show off his “softer side” in DWTS

Philip Doyle has one goal – to make it to the final of Dancing with the Stars.

It’s safe to say he’s competitive. He’s an Olympian. He’s a doctor. And now he’s showing off his skills on national television every Sunday night.

However, it’s safe to say he felt the pressure two weeks ago when he and his partner, Daniela Roze ended up in the first dance off of the season.

“Once you’re in one dance off, you kind of think you’re going to be in all of them,” he tells VIP Magazine ahead of the 100th episode of Dancing with the Stars.

“I got this many points, and then it’s added to the vote, so I must be here on votes. But then last week the same calculations didn’t add up to what they did the week before, which is great. I think maybe more people got behind us, and we got a few more vote than we did the week before, which is never a bad thing.”

He grins before adding: “Hopefully it means that we’re starting to perform a bit better. We’re actually connecting with people a bit more.”

He jokes that he knew he didn’t want to go before the 100th show.

“We have to make it to the 100th show, they’re gonna have to pull out the stops, and there’ll be something fun and something new! It’d be the wrong week to go home before the big, big 100th birthday party! We were delighted to get through.”

So is he content with just getting to the 100th show? Oh absolutely not!

“I want to get to the final,” he says with a firm nod.

Of course, this opportunity is a way for the emergency medicine doctor to show off a different side to himself.

“In real life, I’m not that serious of a guy. In work, I’m very serious when it’s needed. I think one of my biggest qualities and strengths in work is that I can really connect with the patients and try to get the best for them and for myself.

“In this show, I’m always very joking, very jovial. My humour is dry, and when I say dry, like Sahara level, dry humour very dark at times.”

He gives us a knowing grin. But there’s also another side to him.

“I’m part of a school’s program, where we go and visit. Last week, we managed to get a visit to the school where Daniela and I taught them the dancing, which was a great way to show the other side, the softer side of me and which was just a lovely opportunity. And to feel natural in it as well.

“I wanted to show that side of myself, in a real and genuine way…without having the camera follow me around the hospital!”

Although, he admits he is “very aware of the work,” admitting that he felt “so guilty” after performing as a “crazy skeleton” doctor a few weeks ago.

“I went back to work for a day or two. I emailed them, saying: ‘I’ll come in tomorrow if you need me’. And then, of course, they’re always short stuff so I was in that week.”