You can go home now X Factor, the ratings war for Saturday nights is over before it begins this season.  Reality TV rival Strictly Come Dancing has secured an Irish star for this season that will have mammies and grannies across the land clinking their cups of tea in delight. Fresh from his turn on stage at the Rose of Tralee earlier this week, beloved Donegal crooner Daniel O'Donnell has confirmed that he will take part in the upcoming series of the dancing contest. Daniel, 53, was announced as this year's eight contestant on BBC Radio 2 this afternoon during the Steve Wright in the Afternoon show earlier today. Wee Daniel has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. He joins Peter Andre, Carol Kirkwood, Katie Derham, Georgia May Foote, Jeremy Vine and Kellie Bright as a celebrity dancer on this year's show. Daniel said of the news: "Earlier this year, I decided to take a short break from touring and told myself that I would only consider doing something if it was both different and exciting, well what could be more exciting than Strictly Come Dancing? "I love to dance and boy am I looking forward to getting started and being the best that I can be!” Let's just take a moment to acknowledge that Saturday nights will now look like this and life is good.

Swoon. #RoseOfTralee #HoldUsDaniel pic.twitter.com/DHkfZCKsED

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) August 18, 2015