Nitro from Gladiators is confirmed for Strictly
Olympian and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka Nitro is the first celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2025
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 — and he made sure to break the news in style by pulling a prank on CBBC Newsround viewers.
Who is Nitro from Gladiators?
Known for his mischievous streak on Gladiators: Epic Pranks, Harry appeared live on the Newsround set disguised as world-famous choreographer Nicky Trott. His “guest” was meant to discuss a recent study exploring the benefits of dancing daily alongside scientists. However, the disguise wasn’t convincing enough to fool Newsround presenter Jenny Lawrence, who quickly saw through the act. With a grin, Harry dropped the surprise: he’s officially signed up to compete on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Harry’s journey to the dance floor is impressive both on and off the track. As a multi-gold medal-winning sprinter and Olympian, he’s one of Team GB’s standout athletes. He made history early by becoming the first athlete to win gold in both the 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships. At just 17, Harry was crowned the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Over his career, he’s collected gold medals in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, competed in two Olympic Games, and claimed multiple European and Commonwealth titles.
In 2023, Harry expanded his public profile by stepping into the role of Nitro on the popular BBC series Gladiators. He also made his Strictly debut in last year’s Christmas Special, where he was partnered with professional dancer Nancy Xu.
When will the next Strictly contestants be announced?
Fans won’t have to wait long to meet more stars joining Harry on the dance floor. The next three celebrity contestants will be unveiled live on The One Show on Monday, 11 August at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September, promising another season filled with dazzling performances and fierce competition.