Strictly confirms Gladiators legend as first celebrity in BBC 2025 line-up
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.
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
The multi-gold-medal-winning Team GB sprinter was announced as Nitro in the high-stakes BBC gameshow in 2023.
And he will no doubt be bringing all his skills to the dance floor. More Trending
The next three celebrity contestants will be announced later today on The One Show at 7pm.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on September 20, 2025.
View More »
More to come…
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Strictly in fresh scandal after staffer claims they were 'offered cocaine by show star'
MORE: Jamie Borthwick's EastEnders return 'confirmed' after three-month ban for disabled slur
MORE: Which Strictly pros are competing this year after Gorka Márquez news devastates fans?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
6 minutes ago
- Metro
‘It's the only product I can't live without' - the blush beauty experts swear by
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more As a beauty editor for many years, I'm someone who owns more blush than I care to admit and it takes a lot to impress me. I look for glow, pigment and blendability every time but so few make the cut. But the moment I tried the NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush in Orgasm, I knew it was going straight into my everyday makeup rotation. If you're familiar with the original Orgasm powder blush, you'll already know it's one of NARS' most iconic shades – a peachy-pink with a soft golden sheen that somehow flatters every skin tone. But, now in my mid-thirties and with my skin starting to lack the hydration I had in my twenties, I wanted something a little more moisturising – which is why the Afterglow Liquid Blush has become my go-to. Don't get me wrong, I still love the powder version and use it regularly, but the liquid formula takes everything that made the original so beloved and gives it a fresh, dewy upgrade. A radiant, buildable liquid blush, Afterglow Liquid Blush in Orgasm from Nars gives skin a natural-looking flush with a luminous finish. The iconic Orgasm shade is a peachy-pink with golden shimmer and melts effortlessly into the skin with a lightweight, serum-like texture. Formulated with sodium hyaluronate, it hydrates skin and leaves you glowing. Buy Now for £33 The texture is incredibly lightweight, almost serum-like, and blends into the skin effortlessly. And yes, I genuinely get compliments every time I wear it. Friends have asked if I've changed my skincare, or told me I'm 'glowing' – the ultimate makeup compliment in my book! To apply, I place a single dot on each cheek and blend it out with my fingers or a damp sponge. It gives me that healthy-looking glow – not streaky, not glittery, and never disturbing the foundation underneath (an annoying trait a lot of drier formulas have). The pigment is such that applying a small amount leaves you with a subtle lit-from-within flush but, thanks to the buildable formula, an extra dot or two can give a slightly more rosy finish. Universally flattering on all skin tones, including deeper complexions, this transfer-resistant formula is, in my opinion, unmatched. What's even more impressive is that it has added skincare benefits too. Infused with sodium hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, it gives skin all-day hydration which is ideal if you love a radiant finish. It's not just me that loves the liquid formula, with an impressive 4.7 out of 5 rating online, shoppers who have already snapped up the blush have raved about it in their product reviews. One review left by a shopper named Imraati says: 'I've been trying the NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush, and it's a beautifully lightweight way to add a subtle, luminous glow to the cheeks. The serum-like texture feels hydrating and sheer, offering a natural finish that catches the light – almost like your skin but more polished.' Another review from Larisa93 reads: 'A light weight, serum-like blush that gives skin a fresh, dewy flush with a soft-focus glow. Perfect for a natural, healthy-looking tint.' More Trending And a very positive review from Soya says: 'The NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush in Aragon is a game-changer! Its silky, lightweight formula blends seamlessly for a natural, radiant flush. A little goes a long way, and the warm, rich shade flatters all skin tones. Perfect for a dewy, healthy glow that lasts all day!' So whether you're after a subtle flush for everyday wear or a buildable glow that gives life to your face, NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush in Orgasm delivers on all fronts. With its lightweight texture, skincare benefits and universally flattering tone, it's no surprise this blush is fast becoming a new cult favourite – and one I'll be reaching for well beyond summer. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: Secret behind the name of Nars' cult blush Orgasm MORE: We tried Glow Recipe's newest blusher with a 35,000 waitlist – here are our honest thoughts MORE: I'm a blusher aficionado and this liquid version has changed my make-up game Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
.jpg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C148%2C0%2C147%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Olympian to Gladiators star: First look at Strictly Come Dancing cast
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro from Gladiators, has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing. The Olympic sprinter and multiple European and Commonwealth champion made the announcement on BBC's Newsround on Monday. Aikines-Aryeetey previously competed in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special last year alongside professional dancer Nancy Xu. The upcoming series will feature two new professional dancers, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, joining the returning cast, with all four judges also set to return. Gorka Marquez, a popular professional dancer, will not be partnered with a celebrity for up to four weeks due to his role as a judge on the Spanish version of the show.
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Match of the Day line-up confirmed for first show since Gary Lineker's BBC exit
Match of the Day returns this week with the 2025/26 Premier League season set to kick off and the BBC programme is set to look very different in their first broadcast of the campaign Match of the Day is set to return this weekend with a brand-new line up, with Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer set to play pivotal roles. The BBC programme returns to screens on Saturday to coincide with the start of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign. And while the highlights show retains its hugely popular format, it's set to look very different. Long-serving host Gary Lineker departed at the end of last season, bringing to an end a near three-decade stint at the helm. The BBC confirmed who would be taking the reins from the England icon shortly afterwards. MOTD2 host Mark Chapman is set to share the role alongside Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates. And it's now been revealed who will be fronting coverage this weekend. Chapman will reportedly lead the first show of the new campaign having presented the show's Sunday spin-off since 2013. Chapman will be supported by former strikers Shearer and Rooney, who have been pencilled in for punditry roles, according to The Sun. The Newcastle icon has been a regular guest on the programme, while Rooney now appears to be focusing on his punditry career after his disastrous spell with Plymouth Argyle was ended in December last year. Away from the flagship show, Cates' Match of the Day debut has been planned for this Wednesday. She will lead coverage of the highlights of Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Super Cup clash with French giants Paris Saint-Germain. The BBC announced on January 15 that Cates, Chapman and Logan would be the new presenting team. The news came following weeks of speculation about who would take over from Lineker after he said last year that he was stepping down. The 64-year-old had long intended the final Match of the Day of last season, on May 26, to be the last time he would present the highlights programme but he was planning to stay on to front the BBC's live coverage of the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup. Earlier in the month however he announced he was bringing forward his departure following a social media row in which he shared a post about Zionism featuring a depiction of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic trope. Lineker, the BBC's highest-paid presenter and host of Match of the Day since 1999, apologised unreservedly for the post but said it was 'best for all concerned' if he left completely. Cates has been a presenter with Sky Sports since 2016, fronting coverage of the Premier League. She will continue her role with Sky. Elsewhere, Logan has long been with the BBC having already presented Match of the Day in Lineker's absence on a host of occasions.
