Eileen Dunne has become the first celebrity to sign up to season seven of Dancing with the Stars.
The line-up is being kept under wraps until an official announcement is made in December, but RSVP Live can reveal the the former newsreader will be part of the show's highly anticipated return to screens.
The glitzy reality show will hit TV's once again in January.
Read more: RTE's Eileen Whelan says nobody tells you how lonely and overwhelming it can be as a single mother
A source told RSVP Live: "Eileen Dunne is one of the big names secured for Dancing with the Stars next year.
"Viewers didn't know whether or not the show would be coming back amid cutbacks in RTÉ this year but the team behind it were working hard to ensure its return.
"Bosses are delighted to have Eileen on board because she is such a big name and everyone at home will know her and get behind her.
"She was part of RTÉ for 40 years and viewers will be delighted to see her back on screens again."
A spokesperson for RTÉ told us: "We won't be commenting on the line up for Dancing with the Stars at this early stage."
Dancing with the Stars was confirmed for a seventh season back in August when RTÉ revealed their new season launch.
Eileen will follow in the footsteps of her former RTÉ colleague Mary Kennedy, who appeared on the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars following her retirement.
Former newsreader Aengus MacGrianna also took part in season five.
RTÉ sports favourites Des Cahill and Marty Morrissey have also taken to the dancefloor over the years.
Eileen signed off from RTÉ in her final bulletin last November after 40 years of service ahead of her 65th birthday.
She previously told RSVP Magazine: "It was the same as any other broadcast and that’s the way I tried to make it. I didn’t tell anyone beforehand and I didn’t want any fuss because I still had to get through the day.
"At the end I had 30 seconds to speak out and I had it well rehearsed. If I had to talk for any longer maybe I would have started to wobble."
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