Actor Rory Cowan has revealed his upcoming appearance on Dancing with the Stars will be his last hurrah before he steps back from the limelight for good.

The Fair City star said he intends to hang up his showbiz boots and retire when he turns 65 next year.

Actor Rory Cowan has revealed his upcoming appearance on Dancing with the Stars will be his last hurrah before he steps back from the limelight for good.

The Fair City star said he intends to hang up his showbiz boots and retire when he turns 65 next year.

And although he would be open to extending his Fair City contract on an ‘irregular basis’ when his current contract ends, he said he’s content to call time on his career after he celebrates his birthday.

But first he intends to give DWTS everything he’s got, and the actor says he’s loving the experience so far as he is put through his paces in rehearsals.

Cowan told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m 64 now and I’m comfortable enough, so I’d be able to retire next year. So I thought this would be a great one to go out on – Dancing with the Stars!

‘I’ve a contract with Fair City until next year, so if Fair City continued on an irregular basis I would still do that. But once I’m done with Dancing with the Stars and all these interviews I’m doing now, that’s it done for me. I’m retiring.’

The former Mrs Brown’s Boys star said DWTS producers have been ‘asking me to do this show every year’, but until now other commitments got in the way.

‘For various reasons I couldn’t. I was in Mrs Brown’s Boys or I was doing panto and the schedules clashed.

‘Then they asked me in 2019, and the day I said “yes” and I had agreed to do it, the very next day I got the gig in Fair City.

‘I was starting in Fair City in October, and they were only introducing the new character, Bosco, so they couldn’t bring him in and then get him out again for 12 weeks and then bring him back in again.’

But when opportunity knocked once more Cowan jumped at the chance to take part.

‘This time I was able to do it, so I said: “Do you know what Rory – do it!”‘ Despite his looming retirement plans, and the fact that he’s ‘never danced before’, Cowan is determined to give it his all on the shiny dancefloor.

‘I’ve never danced before. Never, ever. Apart from disco dancing when I was drunk in nightclubs in the 80’s… but that won’t get me through, of course it won’t,’ he laughs.

‘I haven’t a clue what the dances are yet. I’ll just be looking at getting the first dance done, and when that’s out of the way I’ll look at the second dance.

‘Then it goes to the voting on the third week; so that’s when you can be voted out. But look, I’ll just do my best and see how I go.’

Despite being a novice dancer, the actor says he’s had no problem picking up the moves so far.

He told the MoS: ‘I am getting the steps in the rehearsals. It takes me a while, but I am getting them.’

And in terms of the fitness levels required for the show, he is confident he’s in good shape.

‘I’ve been in the gym now the past few years, so I’d be able to keep up with anyone fitness-wise. Unless it gets too wild!’

And while some previous celebrity hoofers have refused a spot of false tan to give them an extra glow on the show, Cowan’s attitude is ‘spray away’.

‘I was supposed to get a spray tan for a promo for the show, but I couldn’t because I’m in Fair City. I can’t really get a spray tan and go and be Bosco in Phelan’s.

‘But I don’t mind getting them. I used to get spray tans for Mrs Brown’s Boys, so I don’t mind. Bring it all on!’