Danny O’Carroll, who plays Buster Brady on the popular sitcom, will pay a tribute to his father, the creator of Mrs Brown’s Boys, during the dedicated dance tonight.
The Dubliner, who now lives in Co Donegal, and his pro-dance partner Salome Chachua, will perform a Mrs. Brown’s Boys inspired Cha-cha-cha to She’s a Lady by Tom Jones – the song featured in their 2014 film, Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie.
He will reprise his role as Buster Brady for the routine while Chachua will bring a whole new level of glam as she becomes Mrs. Brown for one night only.
“Immediately, I wanted to pick my dad because when you love somebody so much, you told them so many times, you find different ways to be able to express your love to that person,” O’Carroll said.
“Getting the opportunity to do something like this as a dance, you don’t get ever, so it’s a quite special thing.
“I phoned my dad yesterday to tell him that I was dedicating the dance to him. He was very happy and he cried. It’s very emotional,” he said.
While O’Carroll said he is “pretty shocked he got this far” and is “in it for the fun of it”, he hopes to get to the final to see his dad, who lives in Florida, in the audience.
“He told me: ‘Listen, if you get to the final, I might pop back’. I miss him and I’d love him to come back and sit in and watch, but only if I get to the final.
“I miss him like crazy. I’ve seen him for Christmas and I haven’t seen him since, so I’ll be looking forward to seeing him when this is all over – I’m going to go straight up to Florida get that hug that I love getting.
“I could sit here all day and give you every compliment under the sun, and none of it will come close to what he actually means to me and what he is as a person – he is the most amazing human I know.”
Buster from Mrs Brown’s Boys TV Show Danny O’Carroll with his Pro Dance Partner Salome Chachua during Dancing with the Stars. Photo: Kyran O’Brien/kobpix
O’Carroll said his dad is his biggest supporter but the entire family watches and supports him every Sunday.
“Coming into this, it was like coming into something [where] I didn’t have my comfort blanket, which is my family. It was really different for me,” he said.
“But the support I have from them is just blowing me away. They’re the first people to call me when I come off the stage. After Charleston, I FaceTimed my dad when I went up to the dressing room and it was quite overwhelming.
“The feeling was nearly like winning the show. It was that good. My dad started crying on the phone. It choked me up. I couldn’t believe it, he’s so behind me.
“It’s like they’re living for Sundays now, all my family, they go through the week just waiting for next Sunday.
“The family are very supportive, and they feel like I’m doing an amazing job and flying the family flag very well I hope,” he added.
He’s the third Mrs Brown’s Boys star to compete for the glitterball, following in the footsteps of his castmate and aunt Eilish O’Carroll, who took part in 2019, while Rory Cowan was the first contestant to be eliminated in last year’s show.
Buster from Mrs Brown’s Boys TV Show Danny O’Carroll with his Pro Dance Partner Salome Chachua during Dancing with the Stars. Photo: Kyran O’Brien/kobpix
The Finglas native has two sons with his ex-wife and actress Amanda Woods – Jamie (18) and Blake (14).
“When I first told them I was gonna do the show, I think both their reactions were: ‘Dad, please, don’t.’ Because they’ve never seen me dance, I just don’t dance.
“And from the very first show, when they watch it on TV, they’ve just been blown away. That makes me want to go forward because my kids are so proud of me.”
He also revealed he was offered to take part in Strictly Come Dancing a few years ago but had to turn that down as he would need to move to London and be away from his children.
“I’m crazy about my boys. When I got the opportunity to do this, it suited me, because I can get back home and see them after a show.
“Every time after the show, I shoot back up to Donegal. When everybody goes for drinks, I go back to see my kids.”
He also praised his dance partner Chachua whom he described as “just incredible”.
“God love her. It must be so frustrating for her because it really is like teaching a child. I need to know step by step.
“She’s working her ass off to make me as good as she can get me,” he added.
Buster from Mrs Brown’s Boys TV Show Danny O’Carroll with his Pro Dance Partner Salome Chachua during Dancing with the Stars. Photo: Kyran O’Brien/kobpix
