Strictly 2025 Bombshell: Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Joins the Line-Up — Here’s What You Need to Know
The wait is over: the first celebrity is confirmed—game on.
Gladiator to glitterball, round two. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is trading Nitro's spandex for sequins again — after a one-off Christmas cameo last year, he is stepping into the main Strictly Come Dancing series this time.
Quick snapshot: who is Harry?
- Age: 36
- Job: TV personality and Olympian
- Instagram: @aikines
- Claim to fame: Team GB sprinter with multiple golds, and Nitro on the BBC's Gladiators
- Early standout: At 17, won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year (2005) after becoming the first athlete to take 100m and 200m gold at the World Youth Championships
- Medals and majors: Gold in the 4x100m relay at both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games; three-time European champion; two-time Commonwealth champion; competed at two Olympic Games
- Gladiators info: Joined the reboot lineup in 2023 as Nitro — yes, that Nitro fans keep shouting about
- Strictly history: Danced in the 2024 Christmas special
Why he is back for the full series
Harry says the Christmas special was a morale reset after a serious injury. That festive routine was his first real movement post-rehab, and it convinced him he could feel like himself again — both Harry the sprinter and Nitro the TV wrecking ball. Worth noting: he did a street commercial routine for Christmas, so he did not learn a traditional ballroom or Latin dance. Translation: he is not walking in with a secret head start, just confidence from surviving the studio glare once already.
'After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I am so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I am ready to give it all I have got.'
He also says he will bring a ton of energy and hopes he can pick up choreography as fast as he used to pick up relay batons. We will find out soon enough.
Inside baseball: Nitro vs Harry
If you only know him from Gladiators, the name thing can be confusing. Nitro is his Gladiators persona. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is the human underneath. Same guy. Less foam pit.
Partner watch
At Christmas he danced with Nancy Xu. The BBC has not confirmed who he will be paired with for the main run yet, so a Nancy repeat is possible but unconfirmed.
When and where to watch
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday 20 September at 6:40pm on BBC One and iPlayer.