MODEL Missy Keating's birthday wish didn't come true as she became the latest celebrity to be axed from Dancing With The Stars
The daughter of Boyzone singer Ronan Keating failed to impress the judges as she and her dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas became the first couple voted out of the Rte One Show after the dreaded dance off.
Missy, who just turned 21 on Friday, fought hard to keep her place against singer Erica Cody.
But dancing the Charleston a second time, it wasn't enough for judges Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Arthur Gourounlian.
Missy had only returned to the ballroom floor after she as forced to miss the show last week when she fell ill with Covid-19.
And despite receiving huge praise for her Charleston routine from the judges earlier in the night, scoring her 24 points, it wasn't enough to keep her in against Erica and Denys Samson, who won the majority of judges votes with her salsa.
Speaking on the show, Missy said: "At least I'm not going home on my own. I'm going out to party now."
But the emotion was too much, and she broke down in tears as she thanked Ervinas, saying: "Thank you. You're the best. I've had the best time with you. It's been an amazing journey with you".
Ervinas: "She's been incredible throughout every week, she gave it her very best and that's all I could ever ask of her."
Opening up about the dance off, Erica said: "There is a first time for everything. It was definitely fun doing that again. We have so much more to give to this journey".
Earlier in the night, singer Erica and her pro dance partner Denys Samson scored 27 points with their spicy salsa.
An impressed Brian said: "Hip action of a professional standard," saying: "Erica good last week, Erica back to being great this week".
Loraine said Erica's lifts were wonderful, while Arthur said he couldn't stop smiling, saying if they were doing a big tour, they would be "hired in a heartbeat."
Missy goes out of the show after just turning 21, which she said was a "dream come true", adding she cried her way through last week's show when she was "gutted she missed it".
Meanwhile, pro cyclist Nicolas Rochas waltzed his way around the dance floor with his pro dance partner Karen Byrne on Sunday night.
Brian said he was "in and out of love" with the dance, with Karen defending Nicolas after Brian's comments.
But Loraine said she was "impressed with his frame", saying she liked his routine.
Speaking afterwards, Karen hit back at Brian's comment, saying: "I think we need to give blood to impress him. He was brilliant, I'm not just saying it."
"I'm definitely enjoying it every week," added Nicolas as they scored just 17 points.
Dancing the American Smooth, Aslan's Billy McGuinness and his pro dance partner Hannah Kelly scored 18 points for their routine.
Brian said the dance was "typically you" but said he was like a "dizzy flamingo" watching him spinning on one leg.
Paralympian Ellen Keane and her dance partner Stephen Vincent showed off their technical skills dancing the foxtrot
Arthur described her she was like "a goddess", saying it was like watching her dance on air as the judges scored her 23 points.
Brian said it was a "shame" at the odd moments she was out of sync but she said he was impressed, while Loraine said it was "graceful, elegant and beautiful".
Speaking afterwards, Stephen said the out of sync comments was "were talking small stuff".
Love Island's Matt McNabb strutted his stuff to the cha-cha-cha with pro dance partner Laura Nolan.
But it wasn't a favourite with the judges
After winning immunity last week for their emotional dedication dance, the pair were relaxed despite scoring just 12 points.
And TV star Grainne Seoige turned heads as she tangoed with pro dance partner John Nolan.
Grainne opened up on the Rte One show about how her South Africa hubby Leon Jordaan fell ill with Covid-19 and was force to miss the show last week.
But Leon was back in the audience cheering on his wife.
Grainne said: "He's here tonight and lived to tell the tale. He's Covid free and he's here tonight, which I'm delighted".
Loraine said it was "a very good tango" with " a lot of staccato action", adding her "intensity in the face was very good" but told her to "give me more body."
Arthur praised her tango, saying her femme fatale was returned, while Brian described her tango as "very good" but said he wanted a "little bit more power".
Grainne and John scored 22 points - the highest score of the series.
Champion jockey Nina Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca were given a standing ovation by the three judges, with Arthur saying she made her Viennese waltz look so easy.
Scoring the first 30 points in the series by all three judges, Brian was first up to compliment the couple.
He said: "I don't know what dancing with you is like but from where I'm sitting I would say it is pretty fantastic", adding she could go on to be one fo the very best dancers.
And Loraine said Nina was "simply beautiful, light, flowing", saying it was a "text book performance".
Closing the show, rugby series star Jordan Conroy scored a home run with his dance partner Salome Chachua for their jive.
Lorainne said their dance was "knocked out of the park", with Brian saying Jordan "smashed it".
And Arthur said: "Jordan is back stronger than ever. That was a jive to remember."
Jordan and Salome scored 29 points - the second highest score on the leader board.
