RTE Traitors star fumes ‘we were shocked’ as family blast Brian Redmond’s ‘nasty’ Paudie ‘hunch’ critique in DWTS row

A major RTE blunder during the live show also didn’t help the star’s chances of getting votes
THE son of Dancing With The Stars’ Paudie Moloney has blasted judge Brian Redmond after his “nasty” remarks about his dad’s posture during his debut.

Andrew Moloney — who starred on Traitors Ireland with his father — fumed: “We were all shocked. My Daddy doesn’t have a hunch.”

He was forced to listen to the “disgraceful” critique of his dad from the studio audience, after attending the RTE show with mum Bernadette and his three sisters.

More than half a million viewers watched 68-year-old Paudie being annihilated on live TV by Brian, who gave him just two points for a salsa with partner Laura Nolan.

Rather than critiquing his dance, exasperated Brian launched his scoring book across the desk, and told the exhausted former prison officer: “I just wish you’d brought your Traitors cloak with you so I wouldn’t have had to just watch the hunchy posture, the stiff legs.

“I mean, you were just lucky there was no murder on the dancefloor tonight.”

Now Paudie’s son has taken aim at Brian, 48, for his acid tongue — and declared his reaction as being completely over the top.

Andrew told The Irish Sun: “It wasn’t nice what Brian said.

“I turned to my sister, and she said ‘Oh My God, what has he said?’ It did shock me.

“We were all shocked. My Daddy doesn’t have a hunch. He probably got out of alignment during the dance but my Daddy does not have a hunch. Brian should have critiqued Daddy’s dance.

“I shouted ‘Go on Daddy’ from the audience before he started. Here he was throwing himself in at the deep end, dancing live on TV. He took it on so bravely.

“We were so proud of him. I thought he had done so well. That’s what was so disappointing about Brian’s comments.

“It’s the dance Brian should have been focussing on — not any ­physical aspects of him.

“My Daddy would only want to hear feedback from Brian ­regarding improving his dance.

“I wouldn’t like to hear any comments that would hurt him or disappoint him.”

However things got even worse for Paudie — as just moments later, when RTE opened the lines for voting, a mix-up saw the wrong voting numbers shown under the clip of Paudie dancing.

Rival Ireland AM host Eric Roberts’ numbers were shown instead.

The flub robbed the pensioner of ­crucial votes from the ­opening show, which will be added to tomorrow night’s phone votes.

Paudie and Laura are currently bottom of the scoreboard.

And it could result in the Limerick man being the earliest dancer ever to leave the competition — as for the first time in DWTS’ nine-year run, a celeb will be booted off in week two rather than a week later like usual.

Son Andrew told us: “I’d be worried about the scores not going his way because they made a mistake with the public vote.

“It would be such a pity if that was the reason why Daddy went. You’d think some sort of correction could be made if needs be.

“It would be very sad for Daddy if he ended up going home. But I know he
is a very resilient person. It would be water off a duck’s back.”

ONLINE OUTRAGE

Andrew said Brian’s scathing comments about his father didn’t really sink in until the family drove back home to Cork on icy roads after Sunday’s opening show, not reaching Douglas until 2am.

The civil servant said he was also aware of the outrage Brian’s comments had sparked online.

Following the opening show, one poster wrote: “What the f*** was going on with Brian this evening? He was so nasty to Paudie, telling him he was stiff and not good.”

We were so proud of him. I thought he had done so well. That’s what was so disappointing about Brian’s comments.”Andrew Moloney

Another viewer wrote: “I think the comments towards Paudie were nothing short of disgraceful. There should be an apology made to the man next week.

“I thought it was supposed to be about dancing, not taking a real insulting remark to the floor.”

And Andrew said: “I wouldn’t blame the public for being upset over the comments. It’s the dance you want to focus on, not any physical aspects of him. ”

‘FAVOURITE SHOW’

Andrew created one of the TV moments of the year on Traitors Ireland when he blurted out “Daddy” — ­giving the game away that Paudie was his father.

The treacherous RTE reality show turned Paudie into a star overnight. But Andrew said: “Fame hasn’t changed my dad in any way. He has time for everybody, if they want to stop him or get a selfie.

“DWTS is his favourite TV show. If he didn’t get the votes last week, and he’s bottom of the scoreboard, hopefully people will vote for him this Sunday and we can make it up.

“If he gets eliminated, Daddy will take it as it comes. I have a new baby son, Oisin, born last October, and he so loves being with him.”

Paudie and Laura will perform a waltz to The Godfather theme, in a nod to his Paudfather nickname, tomorrow.

• DWTS starts at 6.30pm on RTE One or the RTE Player.