Navan comedian Michael Fry confirmed for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Navan native Michael Fry has swapped punchlines for paso dobles as he is confirmed as part of the Dancing with the Stars line-up for the new season, which returns to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in January.

The comedian and actor, who hails from Navan will be among 12 well-known figures taking to the dancefloor when the popular Sunday night show kicks off on 4th January , promising weeks of glitz, glamour and live performances.

Michael is best known for his roles in hit television series Derry Girls and Holding, the screen adaptation of Graham Norton’s novel, as well as for his hugely popular online sketches and musical parodies, which have amassed millions of views. In 2025, he wrote and performed his first stand-up comedy show as part of both the Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe Festivals, further cementing his reputation as one of Ireland’s most versatile performers.

Speaking about joining Dancing with the Stars, Michael said he was “very excited to be learning how to dance in a way that doesn’t suggest I’m utterly ashamed of myself,” adding that becoming more aware of his body could only help his performance.

“Other than at weddings, I’ve got zero dance experience as an adult,” he admitted, though he revealed he did Irish dancing and stage school as a child and still owns the only trophy he has ever won. He also joked about his nerves ahead of the physical challenge, describing himself as “extremely unfit” and hoping there might be “an artful way to bend over with a stitch mid-routine”.

The show, hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox, will see each celebrity paired with a professional dancer to perform a live routine every week, mastering styles ranging from the Charleston to the Salsa.

Joining Michael in the Dancing with the Stars Class of 2026 are Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh, The Traitors Ireland contestant Paudie Moloney, reigning Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, Fair City actress Stephanie Kelly, television presenter Eric Roberts, Olympic medal-winning rower and medical doctor Philip Doyle, singer and musician Tolü Makay, podcaster Amber Wilson, Nationwide presenter Anne Cassin, The Apprentice UK finalist Jordan Dargan, and singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy.

Each week, the couples will be judged by Oti Mabuse, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne, alongside votes from the viewing public, with one pair eliminated until a winner lifts the glitter ball trophy.