Strictly confirms Gladiators legend as first celebrity in BBC 2025 line-up

Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke giving the perfect score during the live show
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is imminent with the confirmed contestants slowly dripping in (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

The first celebrity for Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 line-up has been confirmed as a Gladiators icon.

The BBC reality competition series hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman is back for another year of jaw-dropping dance routines and emotional journeys for our cohort of famed contestants.

Strictly has had a difficult couple of years after pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were removed from the show (and replaced) after behavioural accusations from former partners came out against them.

Earlier this month, the long-running series came under scrutiny once more with reports that two stars had used cocaine, and one veteran worker had been offered drugs at a party.

Meanwhile, beloved pro Gorka Marquez confirmed he would not be competing this year, much to everyone’s devastation, but would make a cameo in some of the group performances.

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Amid all changes, however, it remains one of BBC’s flagship shows with a fresh set of faces ready to take to the dance floor. So who is in the official 2025 line-up?

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka Gladiator Nitro attends a preview screening of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 27, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
The first Strictly star of 2025 has been confirmed (Picture: Getty Images Europe)

Olympian and star of BBC’s Gladiators, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, is the first famous face who will grace the Strictly ballroom this autumn.

The TV personality already took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special with pro-partner Nancy Xu and now he is back for round two.

‘After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got.

‘I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track,’ he said in a statement.

The multi-gold-medal-winning Team GB sprinter was announced as Nitro in the high-stakes BBC gameshow in 2023.

Gladiators,Nitro
The Olympian joined Gladiators as Nitro in 2023 (Picture: BBC)

He will no doubt be bringing all his skills to the dance floor.

If there is one thing Harry is used to, it’s being the best of the best, not only competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics but also securing the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2005 aged 17.

Not to mention being a three-time European champion and two-time Commonwealth champion. So he’ll be a force to be reckoned with on the dancefloor.

The next three celebrity contestants will be announced later today on The One Show at 7pm.

Every celebrity rumoured for Strictly Come Dancing 2025

As we eagerly await the full line-up, there is still plenty of speculation over who will be joining Harry this year.

There are a couple of celebrities who have come out at the top of the rumour mill, including Dani Dyer, who was spotted lurking around the show’s studio recently.

The 28-year-old reality star, and daughter of national treasure Danny Dyer, was rumoured to have signed a pre-show contract by The Sun earlier this year and was just ironing out the fee.

Dani Dyer in a strapless gold dress
Dani Dyer could be dancing on our screens before long (Picture: Ash Knotek/Shutterstock)
Alex Kingston
Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston is another name on everyone’s lips (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

Elsewhere, Doctor Who star Alex Kingston is also being thrown out as a potential celeb dancer.

An insider told The Sun that ‘bosses are delighted to have snapped up’ the 62-year-old actor who portrays River Song in the popular sci-fi series.

‘She’s a real talent and will add a lot, it’s always exciting to have a prestigious actress on the cast.

‘It’s the first time Alex has done a reality show of any kind, but she’s a huge fan of the show and couldn’t resist the opportunity,’ the source added.

When is Strictly Come Dancing 2025 starting?

Strictly Come Dancing returns on September 20, 2025, a week later than its usual start date.

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  • August 11, 2025