Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines Aryeetey, known as Nitro on the BBC's Gladiators reboot, has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 36-year-old revealed the news on Monday during a live appearance on Newsround, where he was disguised as choreographer Nicky Trott before removing his disguise.
“I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got,” Aikines Aryeetey said. “I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor – let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.”
A former Team GB sprinter, Aikines Aryeetey won 100m and 200m gold at the World Youth Championships, was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2005, and competed at two Olympic Games. He is also a three-time European champion and two-time Commonwealth champion. He joined Gladiators as Nitro in 2023 and made his Strictly debut in last year’s Christmas Special with Nancy Xu.
The first live episode of Strictly Come Dancing will air on BBC One and iPlayer in September, running through to December. The next three celebrity contestants will be revealed on The One Show on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, Australian soap stars Delta Goodrem and Natalie Imbruglia are reportedly in talks to join the lineup, along with Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis. A TV source told The Sun: “Delta and Natalie would bring glamour and star power. If all three signed up, it would be quite a coup for the show.” Other rumoured names include Love Island winner Dani Dyer, EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal, Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison, and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw.
Show bosses have also confirmed two new professional dancers for the upcoming series: Alexis Warr, winner of US series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022, and Australian Julian Caillon, who has appeared in three seasons of Dancing With The Stars Australia.
