Fred Cooke.

Fred Cooke dances with the stars ... or is he one?

Kells comedian Freddie Cooke is taking part in 'Dancing with the Stars', which returns for a new glitzy series on Sunday 6th January at 6.30pm on RTÉ One.

Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne will join forces this year to present series three of the show. Airing on RTÉ One for 12 weeks from Sunday, 11 celebrities will pair up with their professional dancing partners. They will have a different dancing genre to master every week from the paso doble to the waltz and  just seven days to perfect their routine before performing live to the nation.  

Also returning this year is expert panel of judges Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Julian Benson. Once again the celebrities and their dancers will be scored by the judges and the viewing public at home.

This year’s line up also includes broadcaster and entrepreneur Mairéad Ronan; actor and comedian Eilish O’Carroll; TV broadcaster Darren Kennedy; model and former Miss Ireland, Holly Carpenter; actor Clelia Murphy; former Dublin footballer and five-time-All-Ireland winner Denis Bastick; actor Johnny Ward; former Munster and Ireland scrum half Peter Stringer; country music singer, Cliona Hagan; and The Young Offender star, Demi Isaac Oviawe.

Fred Cooke said: “I’m so happy to be taking part on Dancing with the Stars this year. When it comes to dancing, I’m full of passion but I don’t have the technique. I’ll do my best to try and get both right on this incredible show.”