Oh Danny Boy: He’s best known for playing Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ lovable rogue Buster Brady, and now actor Danny O’Carroll is showing off his moves on Dancing With The Stars

It was perfect timing for Danny O’Carroll to sign up for Dancing With The Stars this year. The actor, best known for playing Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ Buster Brady, had been approached to take to the dancefloor on the RTÉ show and BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in the past, but things never worked out. The Dubliner has had a lot of change in his life recently – he entered a new decade, his relationship with wife Amanda Woods ended and he confirmed his new romance with partner Tina McClafferty. “Everyone’s happy and getting on with life. I want to be able to move on and enjoy ourselves,” Danny exclusively tells RSVP . Family comes first for the TV star, and his teenage sons, Jamie and Blake, along with his dad Brendan are very important to him. He adds, “My family is very supportive, they’re supportive to both me and Amanda and to the kids.” Here, Danny opens up about meeting Tina and how their relationship works, how his boys are his priority, his dad making him cry after Dancing With The Stars – and why he wouldn’t rule out a move to Florida in the future.

You’ve been approached to do Dancing With The Stars in the past, why did you agree to do it this year?

It worked out really well because I’m usually on tour with Mrs. Brown’s Boys in January. We had a tour around Ireland before Christmas, so I was able to go between the tour and dance rehearsals. It was full-on, but I made it work. Dancing With The Stars has always been something I’ve wanted to do. I was asked to do Strictly Come Dancing before as well, but I would have had to move to London for a few months and I didn’t want to be away from my kids. It’s hard enough to see them while I’m in Ireland with the amount of work I have.

You live in Donegal and Dancing With The Stars is in Dublin, how are you splitting your time?

My kids are still there, so I’d never be able to leave Donegal. My partner Tina is from Donegal as well. I got another Donegal girl, so I’m stuck [laughs]. I’m playing it by ear at the moment. The rehearsal schedule changes every week, but as soon as the pro dancers start rehearsing together I usually shoot up the road to Donegal to be with my youngest son Blake for at least one night every week. He keeps telling me I’m doing well and to keep it up and rehearse as much as I can. He has a great attitude and that makes me feel so much better. My eldest son Jamie is in the audience every Sunday to support me. The support I’m getting from my family is really good. None of them thought I could dance, so they’re in total shock.

What was your dad’s initial reaction when you told him you were signing up?

He brings all of his neighbours around to watch the show at his house in Florida every Sunday. He said if the show was something I wanted to do then I should go for it. I choked up after getting messages from him after my performance. I FaceTimed him one week and he started crying. And it’s not like my dad to cry. That then brought me to tears.

You recently confirmed to RSVP that you’re in a new relationship with your partner Tina. How does it feel now that the romance is out in the open?

Tina wouldn’t be used to all of this publicity, so it is nice to get her used to it and show her how things work in entertainment. She’s a bit shy, that’s to be expected. I love having her around. She’s an amazing girl – she’s a sweetheart and a darling. I’m blessed to have found her, she’s my No1 fan. She’s the most positive person I’ve met in my life and to be living with somebody with that positivity is amazing. I didn’t plan to come out and say anything because it’s my private life. I don’t want to blast around the relationship because I want to have respect for my kids and for my ex-wife. I don’t want to throw it in anybody’s face and we just want to move on with our lives. As long as everybody’s happy, let’s get on with it.

How long have you been together?

We’ve been going out with each other for a year-and-a-half now and it got to the stage where I had to get on with it and live my life. Tina is my life now. Everyone is happy and that’s all that matters to me at the moment.

Your son Jamie has been with her in the audience of Dancing With The Stars , so they must get on well?

Everyone’s happy and getting on with life. I want to be able to move on and enjoy ourselves. I’m not the first person to go through a separation and I won’t be the last. It’s tough on the kids, but they’re supportive and they understand. They support me and they support their mother.

Jamie and Blake have followed in your footsteps by joining the Mrs. Brown’s Boys dynasty. What’s it like working with them and having them on set?

I’m the luckiest dad ever. Imagine being able to work with my own dad and my own family and also be able
to bring my kids along as well. What other dad gets that? When I’m not working, I can drop and collect them from school and bring them to GAA or rugby training. My kids are everything to me and they’re my best friends. I want to be with them all the time.