BBC Strictly Come Dancing announces Christmas line-up addition with link to Montell Douglas

The tables will soon be turned for Montell Douglas as she looks set to be cheering on her Gladiators co-star as they follow in her footsteps and take to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro in Gladiators, has been named as the fourth contestant for the BBC One dance contest's Christmas Special this year.

The Olympian, 36, who competed in the 100 metres for Team GB at Rio 2016, will be partnered by professional dancer Nancy Xu on the festive edition of the BBC dancing show.

READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans 'sobbing' over Dianne Buswell's personal announcement on show

Harry was the first athlete to win gold medals in both the 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships, and won the BBC’s Young Sports Personality Of The Year in 2005 at the age of 17. As Nitro on BBC gameshow Gladiators, he has been taking on contestants alongside current regular Strictly contestant Montell Douglas, who is known as Fire on the show, since 2023.

Speaking about joining the show, Aikines-Aryeetey said: "Strictly are you ready? Nitro’s blasting onto the ballroom floor this Christmas. I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I’m bringing the power, the energy and the moves. This December I’m going to light up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way up. Let’s do this."

The Carshalton-born star also appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef in September, and finished runner-up on MTV’s Celebs On The Farm in 2021.

The one-off Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will see six celebrities perform Christmas-themed routines as they compete to be named Strictly Christmas Champion.

The athlete joins TV presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams, comedian Josh Widdecombe, and Tayce, who will become the programme’s first drag artist contestant, although actor Layton Williams performed in drag as Betty Rizzo from Grease with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin in 2023.

Harry's appearance was announced on Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday (November 18), with the rest of the Christmas contestants to be announced on the show in due course.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.