Dancing With The Stars professional dancer Pasquale La Rocca is hoping to lift the glitterball trophy for a third time.
The Italian dancer has had a triumphant few years professionally, having won the dance show twice - in Ireland in 2020 with RTE host Lottie Ryan, and the year prior on the Belgian edition of the show in 2019.
He has returned to the series with a bang alongside show topper Nina Carberry this year – and hopes for a triple win.
Pasquale told us: “It feels surreal to be in the quarter final. We’ve come from a big journey, I have to say. Nina has worked so hard. In the beginning we said we would have fun but reaching this point is a huge achievement.
"Of course, I like to challenge my numbers.
"The choreography is something I love. I like to shape the choreography around my partner and what suits best and make her feel comfortable.
“And it is hard because it is only a short week, so it is only five days. It has been amazing.”
He said he’s been throwing everything at Nina and even with a knee injury, he hopes the champion jockey can make it to the final.
“I’ve been throwing everything at her and she’s coping really well even with her injury this week. We want to be in that final.
"We’re going to keep working and we have an exciting few dances in the next few weeks,” he added.
