Kevin Dundon on his Dancing with the Stars experience!
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The Hard Shoulder with Ciarán Cudahy with the MG Hybrid and Electric range on Newstalk. Over 18s only, text 250. Full terms and conditions are on dancing... are on dancing with the stars, I nearly said, because I looked up at my next guest, are on newstalk.com.

Kevin Dundon is with me. Kevin, how are you? Dancing. Yeah, dancing. Dancing is right. And God, if I have it on the brain, you must really have it on the brain. It's all consuming, isn't it? It's totally consuming. It's very enjoyable, but it's full on. So you're kind of training like five, six hours every day. Every day. So the show was on last night, obviously live. And then today we did two hours. So today it's like a whole new routine. So it's brand new.

So you kind of just kind of walk through the steps today and then tomorrow it's, I think it's six hours in the studio training tomorrow, including VTs as well because you have to record and all that as well.

And then every day, and then you're in on set then, Saturday and all the way Sunday. And I'd be delicate now about this question, Evan, but does everyone have to spend six hours in the studio? Oh, seriously. I can't believe you just said that, Ciarán. Some spend more, obviously. I just kind of, listen, it is what it is. I could do a certain amount. I was, yeah,

Way back in last July when they were asking me to do it, I said, I'm tempted. And can I spend an hour with Karen Byrne to see whether I could dance or not? So I did. I went out to Karen's studio and Karen was amazing. But she was totally on a sales pitch and said it was really good. You're going to win it, Kevin. I'm going to win it. I'm going to load them on your hands now. Listen, it's been great fun. I'm sure it's a great fun to do.

It is. And listen, I'm having a ball. Yeah. And, you know, it is an entertainment show as well. It's a dancing show, entertainment show. And the casting this year is amazing. Like they have everybody's there and everybody gets on really well together. It might change slightly this week because one of us is going to go home. So I'd say you'll

It'll change, but we all have each other's back, which is really nice because it's kind of nerve wracking. So it's like, you know, 600,000 people looking at you making, well, for me, making an idiot of myself with a smile on my face. I wouldn't say that. No, no, but you're standing at the top of the top of the set. Yeah. The set is unbelievably amazing. So, I mean, what they've put into this is mind blowing.

And next minute, the music starts. And is that when you feel most nervous at that moment or when is it? Yeah. So last night I was like sitting on a fountain with a guitar. As soon as that guitar started, the music started, I went, oh my God, here we go. And then it's over. But what you have to remember is it's 90 seconds of a routine.

And you're on telly for about eight minutes. So it's not all about the dancing. Yeah, that's the way I think of it. That's a good way of thinking about it, actually. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. OK, so six and a half minutes of selling yourself and chat and having a bit of fun and all of that. You should do it. No way. Absolutely. Well, sorry, but joking aside, it is a huge commitment. So you're five or six hours, as you say, in studio most days of the week. Yes.

I mean, when did you start? Maybe before Christmas anyway? Yeah, so the first week of December. And you've got to leave the calendar free until mid-March. Yeah, but still working remotely with Dumbrody and I was trying to get down there as much as possible. Still my commitments with the Today Show as well, which is really important, and other commitments. And also the family. But I tell you, all the things that I've done over my career

I've never seen my family as excited as they are with Dancing with the Stars. So tell me, when you got the call, as you say, back in July and you went and danced with Karen and you sat down with the family and said, listen, I'm thinking of doing... I'm sure you've been asked before, but anyway, I'm thinking of doing it this year. What was the reaction? It was an instant, yes. Really? And I went...

So whatever about Emily and Sophie are both living in Berlin. So like they aren't really that affected. Yeah. But Tom, our youngest, he's 17 in fifth year in school. Oh, yeah. So peak age to be embarrassed by your parents. He said, go for that. Well, that's a great. He's got all the lads in behind him. Yeah.

I'm watching, commenting on what I'm wearing and saying that the judges are being extremely hard on me. So it's go, go, Tom, go. But at this stage, I guess when you stand up there, you know, say you're standing beside Jennifer and you're facing the judges at the end. It's...

Are you so relieved to have gotten through the dance that you're not that worried about what they're going to say? Brian is going to have a little dig at some stage or whatever it happens to be. Do you care? You don't really hear them, to be honest. It washes over you. Literally, because you're so relieved. I think it just goes over your head. The only thing I remember them talking about was Creme Brulee.

Which is one of my favourite desserts. Arthur said, what did he say? If you crack it open, more good things to come or something. But it's one of my favourite desserts. Like, that's really what I remember. Yeah. The professional dancers are probably paying attention to the feedback more so. And it's important that they do and then they kind of pass it on to us then. Yeah.

We weren't talking about my dance. But the five to six hours, like on top of that, because you showed me during the ad right there, a little video of the dance. What dance are you doing next week? I can't really say. Oh, you're not allowed to say? Well, I know what it is. But anyway, so do you have much homework to do? Yes. Outside of the time in the studio? Today,

the first day so you go through all the steps and then you're trying to learn the steps because the trick is that you know the steps inside out so you're actually not thinking about them and it's all about the performance then on top of that

So, yeah, so I've been told to go home and study the video. And has your wife walked in yet to you kind of doing the dance around the kitchen or anything on your own? Once or twice. Well, so, I mean, everything else is kind of, well, I wouldn't say put on hold, but you're kind of working remotely and trying to spin as many plates as you can. Yeah, so a great team. So it's like Dunroady is phenomenal. It's a great, great hotel. And our team has been with us a long time. Cashier's down there at

all the time so it's and the ownership change and all that that's it's all still going well down there there's no difference I'm the director of the business so yeah

the investors that come into Dunbrodie, they're brilliant because they, they invested huge money into the business as well. So it's given a new, at least life. If you have to come down to Dunbrodie tomorrow, there's absolutely no change. You'll see Catherine, you'll see myself and it's all as it was before and as it will be in the future. So yeah, it's,

It's great. Yeah, it's a lovely corner of the world and we often do the walk now that you can do from the church in Duncannon across to Archerstown as well. So it's a great, great, the coast walk. Yeah, it's really nice. Great little addition down there. Listen, Kevin, we wish you well. Thank you. Lots of votes, please. Yeah, lots of votes. Vote for Kevin. Vote for Kevin.

Kevin because the votes depend the votes count now I need them I need them go away to that dark horse put your money listen to Karen Byrne put all your money on Kevin Kevin Dundon chef director at Dumbrody as well of course and contestant on Dancing with the Stars The Hard Shoulder with Ciarán Cudahy with the MG hybrid and electric range weekdays from 4 on Newstalk

A new Diamond era begins. Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks is now open. There's even more of your favorite slots and tables. A sports book, an atmosphere sparkling with excitement, and top names like the legendary Morton's Steakhouse and signature Starbucks coffee. Best of all, this stunning new destination is right at Loop 303 and Northern Parkway. So come and live the Diamond life. Desert Diamond Casino. An enterprise of the Thawna Art of Nations.