Tolu paired with Polish pro dance partner for Dancing with the Stars debut

As she prepares to make her debut on the new season of RTE's Dancing with the Stars, Tullamore singer, Tolu Makay is to team up with Polish pro dancer, Maciej Zieba, who returns for his second season on the hugely-popular dance show.

Maciej stars as a pro dancer on the RTE series along with his real-life partner Arianna, who has joined the line-up of pro dancers for the first time this season. He has been competing in Latin American and Ballroom dancing since the age of five, and is a former student of fellow Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Robert Rowiński.

Maciej Zieba made his debut as a pro dancer on Dancing with the Stars last year, where he was partnered last year with meteorologist Joanna Donnelly.

Tolu Makay is the second Tullamore contestant to take part in RTE's Dancing with the Stars in recent years, following on from local Rugby Sevens international Jordan Conroy, who reached the show's final in 2022.

The Nigerian-born singer who grew up in Tullamore, was one of three celebrities, along with Philip Doyle and Amber Wilson, who were announced as contestants on the Late Late Show.

Commenting on her involvement, she said: "I'm excited to be part of Dancing with the Stars this season. I'm really looking forward to the challenge and seeing how my body responds and what I learn along the way.

Dancing with the Stars is hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox. Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz and glamour from January, the RTÉ series will see 12 well-known figures team up with a professional dancer to perform a live routine every week. Each pairing will have a different dancing genre to master every week, from the Charleston to Salsa, and they’ll have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing live to the nation.

Each celebrity couple will be scored by an expert panel of four judges: Oti Mabuse, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne, and as well as the viewing public at home, with the winning couple claiming the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

Tune in for all the glitz and glamour from Sunday, January 4 on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.