Fr Ray hopes he hasn't two left feet as 'Dancing With the Stars' begins this weekend

Fr Ray Kelly is one of eleven 'celebrities' taking part in 'Dancing with the Stars' as it returns for a brand new series on Sunday 5th January at 6.30pm on RTÉ One.

Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne  present the new series airing on RTÉ One for 12 weeks from Sunday at 6.30pm, as 11 celebrities partner with their professional dancers as they take on a brand new challenge and change their daily routines for dance routines. Each will be hoping to claim the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

The couples will tackle a different dance genre each week from the Paso Doble to the Viennese waltz and will have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing it live to the nation. 

“I’m very excited but there’s a little bit of apprehension there as well because it’s not singing," the Oldcastle parish priest says.  "If you asked me to sing 10 songs… no problem… but now I have to use my feet and we’re into a whole different ball game.  So I’m hoping that it won’t be two left feet all the time and that I’ll be able to get it together…but from watching it on television it sounds so exciting and it’s great to be part of such a great production so I look forward to the weeks ahead”.

Also returning this year is the panel of judges, Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Julian Benson, who will cast their expert eyes over the dancers each week and judge them on their performances. Once again the celebrities and their dancers will be scored by both the judges and the viewing public at home.

This year’s line-up includes TV presenter Glenda Gilson, 2FM entertainment presenter Lottie Ryan, Fair City actor Ryan Andrews, B*Witched star Sinead O’Carroll, former Miss Universe Ireland, Grainne Gallanagh, Olympic Gold medallist Michael Carruth, Love Islander, Yewande Biala, TV presenter  Brian Dowling, Kilkenny hurler, Aidan Fogarty, and recently retired Nationwide presenter, Mary Kennedy.