Jennifer Zamparelli has said she ‘can’t wait’ for her Dancing with the Stars co-host Doireann Garrihy to return in January.

The RTÉ presenter was on maternity leave for the last series of the celebrity dancing show, with Laura Fox stepping in for the season.

The friendship that ensued left Jennifer admitting she was ‘going to miss’ Laura, whose wedding she had attended just last month.

Speaking to Extra.ie, the presenter conceded that it was a ‘tough one’ for both women.

‘Laura did such a great job stepping in – not easy to step in and take over that gig, and not easy for Doireann to relinquish that role to be with her baby so…’ Jennifer shared.

‘Not an easy position for either of them, but it’s just what it is.’

The mum-of-two spoke to Extra.ie from the Aviva Stadium, where she was promoting their new campaign, ReBoot.

The new initiative invites clubs and schools to host Boot Swap points where families can donate football boots they no longer want, all the while picking up a pair of pre-loved boots, free of charge.

Mum-of-two Jennifer stressed the importance of the scheme, which she branded a ‘necessity.’

‘Things add up,’ she said, ‘Costs of having a kid add up, so this will definitely alleviate that pressure.’

Jennifer went on to share that football in particular had greatly helped her eight-year-old son Enzo with his confidence.

‘He’s learned so many skills,’ she told Extra.ie. ‘With something like this [initiative], it will help a lot of kids stay in sport.’

With things set to ramp up from December for Dancing with the Stars, Jennifer’s current focus is on her podcast, Middle Rage, which she co-hosts with her friends, Sharon Mannion and Norma Sheahan.

The comedy show is set to take to the stage at the Gaiety Theatre this October, with Jennifer promising plenty of laughs via stand-up comedy, dancing, celebrity guests and more.

Tickets for the show, on Sunday, October 25, are still available via Ticketmaster.