Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, renowned as Nitro in Gladiators, has made a significant entry into the world of Strictly Come Dancing. This Olympian, who showcased his speed in the 100 metres for Team GB at Rio 2016, is all set to grace the festive edition of the BBC dancing show paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu. The one-off show promises an exciting competition among six celebrities as they present Christmas-themed routines vying to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion.

Bringing the Power and Energy

Aikines-Aryeetey's journey is filled with remarkable achievements. He was the first athlete to claim gold medals in both the 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships. At the tender age of 17 in 2005, he won the BBC's Young Sports Personality Of The Year. As Nitro on BBC gameshow Gladiators, he has been a formidable force, taking on contestants alongside Montell Douglas, known as Fire on the show since 2023. When speaking about joining Strictly Come Dancing, he expressed his excitement. "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."His appearance on other shows also highlights his diverse talent. He joined TV presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams, comedian Josh Widdecombe, and Tayce, who will be 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, Aikines-Aryeetey's addition brings a new dimension to the Christmas special.His appearance was announced on Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday, and the rest of the Christmas contestants will be revealed in due course. The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is all set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day, promising a visual and dancing feast for the viewers.