Danny O'Carroll has opened up about how Dancing with the Stars has been a game-changer for his fitness, especially after he gained some extra weight during the early days with his new girlfriend following his marriage split. Known for his role as Buster Brady in Mrs Brown's Boys, Danny parted ways with Amanda Woods - with whom he shares two sons, Blake and Jamie - last year after 17 years together.
Danny has shared insights into his blossoming relationship with Tina, who he describes as his "everything". He candidly admitted that his fitness routine took a backseat once they started dating. Speaking fondly of Tina, he expressed: "It's amazing. She is incredible. Seeing her in the front row every week, giving me that little fist pump and blowing me kisses. It means everything. She's brilliant. She is amazing. She's so good to me.".
At 41, Danny also disclosed that he's been successfully dropping the pounds that crept on while he was enjoying cosy days in with Tina, complete with Netflix binges and vodka and cokes. He reflected: "I lost a lot of weight. It was the best I ever felt in my life and then I went through a separation and then after maybe a year or so, I was still in a good stage and looking after myself, but I met my partner, Tina.nI sort of started having lazy days in, on the couch watching Netflix, having a few vodkas and coke," reports the Irish Mirror.
Despite trying to maintain his weight, Danny acknowledged he wasn't as disciplined as before. However, participating in Dancing with the Stars has turned things around for him: "But doing Dancing with the Stars – I mean I cannot tell you the weight I'm losing doing this.".
Danny has been shedding the pounds and it's showing, as he revealed: "Like they had to punch a hole in my belt last Sunday. I've lost two and a half inches off my waist. It comes off so fast." He's now focused on keeping the weight off, aiming for health and fitness, and feeling great about it: "My main goal now is to maintain it this time and try and be as healthy as possible. I feel really fit.".
His dance partner Salome Chachua plays a big part in keeping him on track with his exercise routine. Despite his success, Danny confessed his surprise at how far he's come in the competition: "I'm shocked. I don't know what the public votes are like. I don't know where I come in those votes, but I am happy I'm here.".
He's staying true to himself on the show, which he finds liberating: "I'm not here to play a game and be somebody I'm not. I'm being myself. It's a nice feeling to know that people like you for being you. I used to be afraid of what people want from me, what type of Danny do they want.... I could be seven different people at different stages.
"I got to the stage where I thought, 'F*** that, if people don't like me, it is not my problem'. And that is why I came into the show. I'm just being myself and it seems to be paying off.". Talking about support from his Mrs Brown's Boys family, Danny shared that they've been visiting and hinted at a special guest if he makes it to the final: "There have been a few visits in the last couple of weeks. They are coming in scattered but if I get to the final, I might get a little visit from Florida from my dad. He might come home and say hello but who knows? I don't know. He has stuff going on over there as well that he is very busy with.".
Danny has made it clear that his participation in the RTE One series isn't a bid for more employment opportunities. He candidly remarked: "I can't tell you about anything right now but there were offers coming in before Dancing With The Stars for when it's over.".
Furthermore, he stated emphatically: "I'm not doing this to try and get work. I'm here to enjoy myself. I have no expectations at all. People who come in here and have expectations that they could get work out of this could be really let down. I don't know why you'd put yourself in a position to let yourself down.".
In an intriguing reveal, Danny shared that he once broached the idea of his father Brendan running for the Irish Presidency. However, his dad, famous for creating Mrs Brown's Boys, insisted he'd only take on such a role if he could enact real change. Elaborating, Danny mentioned: "I've asked him would he go for it a few years ago and his answer was only if he could change things. And you can never do that. So he would never run for it. He's never coming home. He worked his a*** off all over the place, he deserves to live his life the way he wants. The last thing I'd be telling him to do is go into politics. He doesn't need to.".
Additionally, Danny disclosed that the Labour p arty had even approached his dad about potentially standing as a local councillor. Dismissing the notion, Danny explained: "He doesn't have the time for it. He was busy doing Mrs Brown's Boys at the time. He's a Florida man now. He's an American citizen and he's never coming home. And I'm delighted for him. I'm chuffed for him.".
