Gladiator announced as fourth celebrity for Strictly Christmas special

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known arsenic Nitro successful Gladiators, has been named arsenic the 4th contestant for Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Special.

The Olympian, 36, who competed successful the 100 metres for Team GB astatine Rio 2016, volition beryllium partnered by nonrecreational dancer Nancy Xu connected the festive variation of the BBC dancing show.

The one-off amusement volition spot six celebrities execute Christmas-themed routines arsenic they vie to beryllium named Strictly Christmas Champion.

Aikines-Aryeetey was the archetypal jock to triumph golden medals successful some the 100 and 200 metres astatine the World Youth Championships, and won the BBC’s Young Sports Personality Of The Year successful 2005 astatine the property of 17.

As Nitro connected BBC gameshow Gladiators, helium has been taking connected contestants alongside existent regular Strictly contestant Montell Douglas, who is known arsenic Fire connected the show, since 2023.

Speaking astir joining the show, Aikines-Aryeetey said: “Strictly are you ready? Nitro’s blasting onto the ballroom level this Christmas.

“I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and spot me, I’m bringing the power, the vigor and the moves.

“This December I’m going to airy up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas tone each the mode up. Let’s bash this.”

The Carshalton-born prima besides appeared arsenic a contestant connected Celebrity Masterchef successful September, and finished runner-up connected MTV’s Celebs On The Farm successful 2021.

The jock joins TV presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams, comedian Josh Widdecombe, and Tayce, who volition go the programme’s archetypal resistance creator contestant, although histrion Layton Williams performed successful resistance arsenic Betty Rizzo from Grease with nonrecreational spouse Nikita Kuzmin successful 2023.

Aikines-Aryeetey’s quality was announced connected Strictly: It Takes Two connected Monday, with the remainder of the Christmas contestants to beryllium announced connected the amusement successful owed course.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special volition aerial connected BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.