Dancing With The Stars has suffered its first Covid casualty with show host Jennifer Zamparelli set to miss tonight’s live show.
RTE last night confirmed the 41-year-old will be absent from the show having tested positive for coronavirus.
A spokesperson for the Dubliner said: “Jennifer Zamparelli will be absent from Dancing with the Stars this Sunday, January 23, as she has tested positive for Covid-19.
“Sunday’s show will be presented by Nicky Byrne and Lottie Ryan.
“All being well, Jen will return to her 2fm radio show late next week, broadcasting from home.”
It comes after dance schedules for the first two weeks of the show had to be rearranged as some stars and pro dancers were isolating for Covid-19.
Love Islander Matthew McNabb was given the all-clear just in time for last week’s show, as was former RTE newscaster Aengus Mac Grianna.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Roche has admitted he went red in the face when DWTS host Jennifer flirted with him on the opening show.
The former cycling pro – son of Tour de France hero Stephen – was crowned national champion twice and started a total of 24 Grand tours.
Nico, who was born in France and now lives in Monaco, is hoping he stays in the dance contest so that his family can come over and see him dance his socks off.
He confessed he was surprised that the host commented on his looks and not his footwork on week one after his debut performance with pro dancer Karen Byrne.
Nico told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It was very nice of Jennifer to give me that compliment, I was like a teenage kid who went red.
“I was warned by the people at the show that Jen was very straightforward and great craic.”
Nicolas, 37, was at the bottom of the leader board on week one and says he feels he was judged harshly by the panel.
He added: “They were hard on me, in most of the others they were hard but there were compliments.
“But with me they were just like, ‘you’re s**t. I was p****d off with myself, I wanted to do well for myself and Karen too.
“I was burning inside.”
Nico said he had to rethink all the skills he’d learned for cycling which is the complete opposite to dancing.
He explained: “I was used to making myself as small as possible on the bike, tucking the head in.
“Bringing elbows out and making myself as tiny as possible to be more energy efficient and aerodynamic.
“With dancing it’s all chest up, head out, for the dance floor you have to adapt everything to your dance.
“It’s been a big shock for me, I didn’t even think I could get through the first show.”
Tonight’s live performance sees eliminations kick in for the first time with one unlucky celeb contestant set to get the boot from the RTE reality show.
Nicolas added: “My little brother is coming over next week. I hope I’ve made my family proud.”
- Dancing With The Stars returns tonight at 6.30pm on RTE One
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