Latest news with #BBCYoungSportsPersonalityoftheYear
Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey announced as first celebrity to join Strictly
The 36-year-old, known as Nitro on Gladiators, took part in the 2024 Christmas special. The former Team GB sprinter said: '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. A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) '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 announcement was made when Aikines-Aryeetey appeared live in the Newsround studio, disguised as choreographer Nicky Trott, who was there to talk about recent work with scientists on a study about the benefits of dancing every day. Presenter Jenny Lawrence quickly realised who she was actually talking to and Aikines-Aryeetey revealed he was in the studio to talk about Strictly. Aikines-Aryeetey won the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a two-time Commonwealth Champion. He has appeared in BBC television game show Gladiators since 2024, which sees a host of 'superhumans' take on 'contenders' in a variety of games testing speed and strength. A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) The announcement comes after reports the BBC has launched an investigation into alleged cocaine use by two of the stars on Strictly. The Sun reported their drug use was discussed on the dancing show, and said that the corporation had appointed a law firm to lead the investigation. In July, the BBC announced that two 'incredible' new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show, which starts this autumn. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas returning as judges. The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced on The One Show on Monday. Strictly will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
South Wales Guardian
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey announced as first celebrity to join Strictly
The 36-year-old, known as Nitro on Gladiators, took part in the 2024 Christmas special. The former Team GB sprinter said: '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. A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) '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 announcement was made when Aikines-Aryeetey appeared live in the Newsround studio, disguised as choreographer Nicky Trott, who was there to talk about recent work with scientists on a study about the benefits of dancing every day. Presenter Jenny Lawrence quickly realised who she was actually talking to and Aikines-Aryeetey revealed he was in the studio to talk about Strictly. Aikines-Aryeetey won the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a two-time Commonwealth Champion. He has appeared in BBC television game show Gladiators since 2024, which sees a host of 'superhumans' take on 'contenders' in a variety of games testing speed and strength. A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) The announcement comes after reports the BBC has launched an investigation into alleged cocaine use by two of the stars on Strictly. The Sun reported their drug use was discussed on the dancing show, and said that the corporation had appointed a law firm to lead the investigation. In July, the BBC announced that two 'incredible' new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show, which starts this autumn. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas returning as judges. The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced on The One Show on Monday. Strictly will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey first celebrity confirmed for Strictly 2025
Olympian and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has been announced as the first contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2025. The 36-year-old, known as Nitro on Gladiators, took part in the 2024 Christmas special. The former Team GB sprinter said: "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." 🪩 Gladiator, ready? Olympian and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka Nitro is the first celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 More ➡️ — BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) August 11, 2025 The announcement was made when Aikines-Aryeetey appeared live in the Newsround studio, disguised as choreographer Nicky Trott, who was there to talk about recent work with scientists on a study about the benefits of dancing every day. Presenter Jenny Lawrence quickly realised who she was actually talking to and Aikines-Aryeetey revealed he was in the studio to talk about Strictly. Aikines-Aryeetey won the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a two-time Commonwealth Champion. The announcement comes after reports the BBC has launched an investigation into alleged cocaine use by two of the stars on Strictly. In July, the BBC announced that two "incredible" new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show, which starts this autumn. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas returning as judges. The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced on The One Show. The show will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
Wales Online
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey confirmed as Strictly Come Dancing contestant
BBC Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey confirmed as Strictly Come Dancing contestant The first celebrity contestant for the new series of BBC Strictly Come Dancing has been confirmed as former sprinter and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has been confirmed as the first celebrity taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has been confirmed as the first celebrity taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. In a surprise announcement that saw him prank CBBC Newsround viewers on Monday (August 11) morning. Drawing on his reputation as a star of Gladiators: Epic Pranks, Harry appeared live in the Newsround studio disguised as "world-famous choreographer Nicky Trott", there to discuss his recent work on a scientific study into the benefits of dancing every day. His disguise failed to fool Newsround presenter Jenny Lawrence though, who quickly sussed out who she was really speaking to. Harry then revealed the real reason he was there: to announce to the world he's taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, reports Edinburgh Live. Harry's an Olympian, multi gold medal-winning Team GB sprinter (Image: BBC) Strictly Come Dancing drops 2025 lineup announcement as fans say same thing READ MORE: Harry's 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. The Olympian took part on Celebrity Masterchef (Image: BBC) Harry has gone on to claim 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. Upon confirming his participation in Strictly Come Dancing, Harry expressed: "After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice!". Harry took part in the Strictly Christmas Special last year with Nancy Xu (Image: BBC Studios/Guy Levy) "I'm so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I'm ready to give it all I've got. Article continues below "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 names of the next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be unveiled live on The One Show tonight at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey announced as first celebrity to join Strictly
The 36-year-old, known as Nitro on Gladiators, took part in the 2024 Christmas special. The former Team GB sprinter said: '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. A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) '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 announcement was made when Aikines-Aryeetey appeared live in the Newsround studio, disguised as choreographer Nicky Trott, who was there to talk about recent work with scientists on a study about the benefits of dancing every day. Presenter Jenny Lawrence quickly realised who she was actually talking to and Aikines-Aryeetey revealed he was in the studio to talk about Strictly. Aikines-Aryeetey won the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a two-time Commonwealth Champion. The announcement comes after reports the BBC has launched an investigation into alleged cocaine use by two of the stars on Strictly. The Sun reported their drug use was discussed on the dancing show, and said that the corporation had appointed a law firm to lead the investigation. In July, the BBC announced that two 'incredible' new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show, which starts this autumn. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas returning as judges. The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced on The One Show. The show will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
