Trending Now: Laura Nolan praises Paudie for his Dancing with the Stars ability and fun – Fans React

Dancing With The Stars professional dancer Laura Nolan has said her show partner Paudie Moloney has ‘inspired’ older people to take up dancing.

The ex-prison officer turns 69 three days after the final of Dancing With The Stars, with the Traitors star being the oldest contestant in the competition.

Paudie’s pro dance partner Laura Nolan said the Limerick native has been an inspiration to many.

She said: ‘It’s actually incredible, though, the amount of people that Paudie being in the show has inspired to dance. I don’t know how many people have come up to me to say, “Oh my so and so saw Paudie dance and has actually decided to go to a dance class, because if he can do it. I can too.’

‘And I actually have a group of line dancers who I would say the average age would be in their 60s, and they are even saying, ”Oh my God. Like, people don’t understand. Like to see him get up, down, off the floor, give them everything, it’s unbelievable.”

‘I think that people sometimes watching the show forget that he is three times people’s age, and he’s inspiring so many people to dance. So to be in the final would be incredible,’ she added.

Paudie added: ‘I might even suffer a small bit from imposter syndrome, but, you know, I mean, like, I’m not a dancer. I am trying my best to dance, but it’s difficult at my age, and I’m doing the best I can for my age, I think.’

Despite being bottom of the judges’ leader board last week, the pair will dance into Orchestra Night with a Viennese Waltz to ‘Annie’s Song’ by Tom Denver – a special track for Paudie as it is a personal favourite for him and his wife Bernadette.

The Traitors star reckons it is down to his fitness regime – and getting two new hips – that has him loose on the dance floor with Laura.

‘I had hip resurfacing in 2006, and then I had the hip replacement in 2017 on the other hip, so both of them are artificial at the moment.’

Speaking about the show, Paudie said he is enjoying it more than when he first started.

‘I am enjoying it. I’m enjoying it now more than I did, because I was uptight about it.

‘I am trying my best to be a dancer to the best of my ability, and that’s all I can hope for, and that’s what I think I’m achieving.

‘His hips are a lot looser now,’ added Laura.

And as he approached 70 in 2027, Paudie said he feels fitter than ever as he praises swimming as his secret weapon to keeping in shape.

‘It is down to swimming. There’s no doubt about that. I stayed active all my life. I did triathlons when I was younger. I played squash, and I was just very active, and I like to keep that up all the way through.

‘I did with the swimming, because after the hip operation, they told me not to run anymore, so I couldn’t run. I just, I just faded away from cycling, so I just kept swimming, and it is down to activity and staying active all my life. It clears my head. It helps me just to go through life,’ he added.

Dancing With The Stars continues on Sunday from 6:30pm on RTE One.