In this New Year’s Eve special, broadcast live from Ardmore Studios, seven celebrity contestants don their dancing shoes, take their partners and battle it out with each other in front of the nation for charity. Presented by Marty Whelan, Celebrity Jigs ‘n’ Reels will be broadcast on RTÉ One from 8.30 to 9.30pm with each of the couples performing one dance to be judged by the Celebrity Jigs ‘n’ Reels judges, Jean Butler, George Hook and Colin Dunne as well as the public.
The seven celebrities taking part are, Fair City actress, Hilda Fay, Armagh GAA star, Oisin McConville, comedian and Aprés Match member, Gary Cooke, stylist and model agent Celia Holman Lee, radio and TV presenter, Ray Shah, former Pogues band member, Cáit O’Riordan and The Afternoon Show entertainment reporter, Trevor Keegan.
Each of the seven celebrities has been paired with an Irish dancing professional and will be giving up their time over the Christmas period in the name of charity. The charities benefiting from the calls to the show will be Focus Ireland and The Simon Community. As in the last series, the celebrities will be box stepping their way to an exciting soundtrack of contemporary pop and rock hits.
Following the performances, the judges will give their comments and votes and the phone lines will be open to the public. The results show starts at 11.15pm when the four contestants with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated. The voting lines will stay open through what promises to be an incredible ensemble performance. The show will also ring in the New Year as the final tally is done and the winner announced.
SCROLL DOWN PAGE TO SEE FULL SELECTION OF PICTURS AVAILABLE