Daniel O’Donnell received a very special boost ahead of his Strictly Come Dancing debut — a visit from his two-month-old granddaughter, Olivia. The Donegal-born singer, known for his warm connection with fans, welcomed the youngest member of his family to London as he prepared to take to the dance floor with professional partner Kristina Rihanoff. The pair were set to perform a waltz to Ruby Murray’s classic When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, and Olivia’s presence brought extra smiles to what was already an emotional weekend.
Olivia is the first child of Majella’s daughter, Siobhan, and her husband, Gavin Shields, and Daniel could not hide his joy at having his granddaughter, along with other family members, cheering him on in the capital. A photo shared to his Facebook page captured the tender moment, accompanied by the caption: “Look who came to cheer granddad on in Strictly this weekend. Daniel couldn’t be happier having Olivia and the rest of the family in London this weekend.”
Back in O’Donnell’s hometown of Kincasslagh, County Donegal, the community showed their support in their own way, recording a special video message to send to the singer before his first performance. Known for his deep ties to home, Daniel has often spoken of how much encouragement from his local community means to him, and this occasion was no exception.
Speaking to RTE’s Today hosts Maura Derrane and Daithí Ó Sé before the big night, the singer admitted that while he might appear calm, nerves were starting to take hold. “I’m as nervous as hell — I might look chilled but I’m not a bit, I’m afraid,” he confessed. Daniel even teased that fans might see flashes of his Irish heritage in the routines, revealing that he had shown Kristina some barn dance steps. “If I last long enough you might see some of that in future dances,” he joked. “I don’t know if the judges will appreciate it, but we’re talking about slipping it in there.”
Preparation for the show has been intense, with Daniel spending up to six hours a day rehearsing. He praised Rihanoff’s guidance, calling her a “brilliant teacher,” but admitted the real challenge would be overcoming stage nerves to deliver his best performance. “I suppose it’s just up to me now to try and settle my nerves and display some of what I’ve learned,” he said. “I’m sure none of us are going to be perfect as far as dancing is concerned, but it has been such a great experience so far.”
The competitive atmosphere backstage is palpable, according to Daniel, with fellow contestants such as Iwan Thomas and Peter Andre feeling the same pressure. “We are all in the same boat — everyone is nervous,” he noted. “Even though some of us are used to performing, it just doesn’t seem to account for anything in this situation.”
However, not all commentary has been encouraging. Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy playfully criticised the choice of song as “boring,” while an unnamed show insider suggested that Daniel’s wholesome image might not be enough to carry him far in the competition unless he’s willing to take creative risks. “If he really wants to go far in this competition, he’s going to have to take a few risks,” the source said.
For O’Donnell, though, Strictly seems to be as much about the experience and family moments as the competition itself. With granddaughter Olivia watching from the audience and his hometown rallying behind him, the Donegal crooner stepped onto the dance floor not just as a contestant, but as a proud family man — and that, for him, may already be the biggest win of the night.