Rhys McClenaghan and Laura Nolan crowned champions of Dancing with the Stars 2025
Kenneth Fox
Olympic gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan have been crowned Dancing with the Stars 2025 winners.
Commenting on winning series eight and taking home the coveted Glitterball trophy, Rhys said: "I don't have any words!"
The final four couples to reach the final after an outstanding season were Danny O’Carroll and Salome Chachua, Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas, Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov and Rhys McClenaghan and Laura Nolan.
The grand finale of series eight of Dancing with the Stars opened with a dazzling number from the pro-dancers, finalists and judges to Everybody Dance by Cedric Gervais x Franklin feat. Nile Rodgers.
The competition kicked in as the couples took to the floor for their first dance of the evening; the Judges’ Choice, which tasked each couple with performing a routine from a previous week.
First on the floor was Mrs. Brown’s Boys actor, Danny O’Carroll and his partner Salome Chachua. The pair danced their Charleston from week two to Don’t Blame it On Me by Michael Bublé.
Next up, Taekwondo athlete, Jack Woolley and his pro-partner Alex Vladimirov threw it back to week five with their Dedicated Dance to Jack’s friend Kellie Harrington: an American Smooth to Grace by The Wolfe Tones.
Social media star Kayleigh Trappe and her partner Ervinas Merfeldas were hoping to recapture the judges’ adoration a second time around with their routine from Love Week, a Salsa to Christina Aguilera’s Let There Be Love.
Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan reprised his Movie Week role of Spider-Man, as he and his professional partner Laura Nolan danced the Charleston to the iconic theme tune.
After the voting lines opened, it was down to business, as each couple performed their Showdance - a freestyle performance that allowed them to combine different dance styles and showcase the creativity and skills they developed throughout their Dancing with the Stars journey.
Danny O’Carroll and Salome Chachua danced to Rock this Party by Bob Sinclair.
Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov performed to Years & Years’ version of Lady Gaga’s anthem The Edge of Glory.
Jack and Alex scored 40 points from the judges.
Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas stormed the dancefloor to the R3hab remix of Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams.
Kayleigh and Ervinas scored 38 points from the judges.
Finally, Rhys McClenaghan and Laura took to the floor for the last time and danced to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone.
Karen said: "How do you comment on that? What a way to finish your journey."
Loraine said: "You combined strength and softness, full fluidity all the way through. It was for me, the outstanding Showdance of tonight."
Rhys and Laura scored a total of 40 from the judges.
Wrapping up the final, all seven eliminated celebrities: Mickey Joe Harte, Elaine Crowley, Joanna Donnelly, Yasmin Seky, Gearóid Farrelly, Kevin Dundon and Aishah Akorede and their pro partners returned to the dancefloor with a disco-fuelled groove to Kylie Minogue’s Wow.