Former Premier League referee and Gladiators star Mark Clattenburg is reportedly in talks with BBC bosses to join the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 51-year-old, who retired from officiating in 2017, gained a new audience earlier this year as the referee on the BBC reboot of Gladiators.
A source told The Sun that Clattenburg's broad appeal makes him an attractive prospect. "Mark manages to appeal to young and old, families, children and football fans – plus he’s easy on the eye for the mums," the insider said. While no final decision has been made, the source added: "If Mark doesn’t make the cut this year, he’ll remain a target."
Clattenburg's potential Strictly stint follows a controversial role as Nottingham Forest's referee analyst, which sparked an FA investigation after the club accused VAR Stuart Attwell of bias. The former official stepped into the role earlier this year amid a backlash over Forest's social media statement following a defeat by Everton.
He would not be the first Gladiators star to join the ballroom. Fire (Montell Douglas) appeared in 2024, and Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) reached ninth place in the Christmas special. Other confirmed celebrities for this year's series include EastEnders' Lacey Turner, Love Islander Dani Dyer, and Big Brother host Will Best.
