Public votes to save Fr Ray

Fr Ray Kelly has proven himself popular with the viewing public who saved him from elimination in Sunday nights Dancing with the Stars on RTE One.

The result of the public vote surprised the judges who had been harsh in their comments, but nobody was more surprised that Fr Ray himself.

"It was an awful shock, I nearly fainted, when I realised I was staying," he said.

"I genuinely thought I'd be leaving. I had my overnight bag with me, because I thought I'd have to stay in Dublin because when you are eliminated you have to do the Ryan Tubridy Show," he said.

"I couldn't believe it when I was driving home later that night with my bag."

The Oldcastle Parish Priest failed to impress the judges with  his Cha Cha Cha to Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Buble, but when it came to the public vote, Love Island star Yewande Biala of Enfield become the first celebrity to be eliminated from this series.

The judges were fairly harsh in their comments about Fr Ray and betweent the three of them scored him  just six points,

Loraine said: "You have a dance card but I don't think I'll be putting my name on it. You didn't do any of the steps. But you can move your hips, that's the only thing I saw!"

Julian told him: "Father I don't know what to say! It was fun, it was entertaining, you put your personality on the dancefloor.

"I love you dearly but I just need you to knuckle down a little bit more. I hope this isn't the last dance because I think you have lots more to give."

Brian was a lot harsher: "Viewers of the show know that I'm not a big fan of the faffing about.

"Father you're killing me here, I'm looking for something positive but all I can say is at least it looked like you enjoyed yourself out there."

A stunned Fr Ray is now looking forward to next week's show which is themed 'Movie Night'.

"I don't know wat they have in store for me, but it is good to have another week," he said.