HARRY AIKINES-ARYEETEY CONFIRMED FOR STRICTLY COME DANCING 2025

Olympian and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has been confirmed as the first celebrity taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2025, in a surprise announcement that saw him prank CBBC Newsround viewers.

Flexing his reputation as a star of Gladiators: Epic Pranks, Harry appeared live in the Newsround studio disguised as world-renowned choreographer Nicky Trott, who was there to talk about recent work with scientists on a study about the benefits of dancing every day.

His disguise was not enough to fool Newsround presenter Jenny Lawrence, who quickly rumbled who she was really talking to. Harry then gave the real reason he was there: to tell the world he’s taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing!

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is an Olympian, multi gold medal-winning Team GB sprinter, and star of Gladiators. As a sprinter he has competed at the highest level in the UK since his youth, becoming the first athlete to win gold medals at both 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships, and winning the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17.

Harry has gone on to win gold in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a three-time European Champion and two-time Commonwealth Champion.

In 2023 Harry was unveiled as Nitro in the hit BBC series Gladiators, and he took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special partnered with Nancy Xu.

On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey says: "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."

The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced live on The One Show on Monday 11 August from 7pm BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September.