Fair City’s Stephanie Kelly Wants Co-Stars on Dancing with the Stars | RTÉ

Stephanie Kelly, the Fair City actress currently captivating audiences on 2026‘s Dancing with the Stars, is enjoying a career high – and hoping to share the experience with some of her Carrigstown colleagues. Kelly, who plays Sash Bishop on the long-running RTÉ soap, revealed she’d love to see three co-stars trade the fictional streets of Ireland for the glitter and glamour of the dance floor.

Speaking with RTÉ Entertainment, Kelly named Emily Lamey (Gwen), Joe Hanley (Hughie), and George McMahon (Mondo) as the actors she’d most like to see compete. “There’s three stars I’d love to see do it. I think they’d be great! Whether they’ll do it or not is another question!” she said, acknowledging the decision ultimately rests with her co-stars.

Kelly’s own journey on Dancing with the Stars has been a surprising and rewarding one. She admitted she initially doubted her ability to progress beyond the early stages of the competition. “I am so proud of myself. I didn’t think I’d get this far,” she shared. “I remember saying to Ervinas [Merfeldas, her professional dance partner], ‘I just don’t want to be the first to go home! If I can get to the second week, I’d be delighted!’ The fact that I’m here now… I made it halfway!”

The experience has been transformative, a sentiment she expressed with a touch of disbelief. “If someone told me last year that I’d be dancing on the telly this year, I’d have laughed in their face! Like, ‘What?! No way!’” she recounted. “The fact that I’m doing this, I’m really proud. But I also feel really grateful that such an amazing opportunity came my way.”

Kelly and Merfeldas are currently preparing for “Fright Night” this Sunday, where they’ll perform a “spooky Salsa” to Cascada’s “Evacuate the Dancefloor.” The performance comes as the competition heats up, with the duo aiming to avoid becoming the first couple eliminated this series.

Beyond the dance floor, Kelly and Merfeldas are playfully exploring ways to integrate their partnership into Fair City storylines. “We’re trying to come up with a Fair City script where he would play Sash’s long-lost brother,” Kelly joked, hinting at a potential on-screen reunion of sorts.

Kelly’s success on Dancing with the Stars coincides with another exciting development for Fair City: the arrival of Beverley Callard, best known for her decades-long role as Liz McDonald on the British soap opera Coronation Street. Kelly expressed her delight at working with Callard, whom she’s admired since childhood.

“We are all delighted. Beverley is such a talented actress – she has a great personality, she’s really down to earth and warm and fun,” Kelly told RSVP Live. She added that she was fortunate enough to share scenes with Callard in January, before the episodes aired. “The scenes haven’t gone out yet, but I’m delighted.”

Kelly believes Callard’s presence could give Fair City a ratings boost, attracting viewers from Coronation Street. “I think so, absolutely,” she said. “I grew up watching Coronation Street, I absolutely loved it. I think soap fans can sometimes dip in and out of soaps, so I think we might get a few Corrie fans over to Carrigstown.”

Having played Sash Bishop since 2011, Kelly acknowledges the character has subtly influenced her own personality over the years. “Of course. We talk the same, and we sometimes act the same,” she said. “I think I sometimes bring elements of Stephanie into Sash.” She also noted the amusing overlap between her personal life and her character’s, as her daughter sometimes mistakenly calls her by Sash’s daughter’s name, Olivia.

Kelly’s dual commitments to Fair City and Dancing with the Stars demonstrate her versatility as an actress and her willingness to embrace new challenges. Her enthusiasm for both projects is evident, and her success on Dancing with the Stars is undoubtedly a source of pride for her colleagues and fans alike. Viewers can catch Kelly and Merfeldas on Dancing with the Stars, airing Sundays at 6:30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.