The Olympic athlete, who scored a strong 29 points in the competition last week, is hoping to push into the 30s this week
The 33-year-old from Banbridge, Co Down, won bronze for Ireland in the men’s double sculls at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
He is also a trained doctor for the NHS, and revealed that a few people on the RTÉ show have come to him for medical advice, saying “one particular culprit” keeps coming back for more.
“I’ll not name her, but she’s a devil for getting the free advice,” he added.
The rower is currently splitting his time between Banbridge, where his family and girlfriend, ICU nurse Tiffany McDonald, live, and Dublin, where he trains with dance partner Daniela Roze.
“Tiffany is a little bit disappointed at the amount of time I’ve spent in Dublin, because she’s still back up in Banbridge, but I travelled up to spend a bit of time with her, because she can’t make it this weekend, but she’ll be at every other show, hopefully,” he said.
I just messaged her and said, who’s your friend?
The couple met after the Olympic rower crashed into a tree in front of her friend’s house.
Doyle was driving home when he skidded through a T-junction and crashed into a tree.
“I went in [to the house], and then the girl goes, ‘Oh, I know who you are,’” he said.
“And she said, ‘Oh, you’re Philip Doyle. And I said, ‘Cool, can I borrow your phone?’. And then, ‘Sorry about your tree’.
“I followed her back on Instagram or whatever it was.
Philip Doyle with pro partner Daniela Roze on ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Photo: Kyran O’Brien
“She popped up on a night out with her friends and I just messaged her and said, ‘Who’s your friend?’.
“And that was it. So we’re going out four-and-a-half years now.”
Before the run-up to the qualifiers for the next Olympics, the rower is taking the time to enjoy the opportunities that come with fame.
“When I first got the email [inviting him to participate in Dancing with the Stars], it was back last June,” he said.
“And initially I thought, ‘Oh, I’d love to do it’. But then I thought to myself, ‘No, I can’t do it. I shouldn’t do it’.”
I listen to a lot of Zach Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, sort of new-age country
Doyle mulled it over, but once he had secured a bronze in the men’s double sculls final at the World Championships in Shanghai last year, he felt it was time for some fun.
Last Sunday the Olympic rower danced a paso doble with Roze while dressed as Superman.
The pair secured a solid score of 29 points, but Doyle is hoping to push into the 30s this week as he believes more is expected of him in the competition as an athlete.
Philip Doyle dressed as Superman on ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Photo: Kyran O’Brien
News in 90 seconds Saturday January 24
Doyle and Roze will be dancing to Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell.
“I’m a big fan of country,” Doyle said. “I listen to a lot of Zach Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, sort of new-age country.
“But we grew up with Johnny Cash – my dad would listen to all those songs.”