91�ȱ�

"STRICTLY... ARE YOU READY?"

Gladiators star Nitro will be swapping the gauntlet for glitter as he joins the line-up for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.

Former Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, as he is known outside of Gladiators, will be partnered with Strictly pro Nancy Xu when they take to the dance floor.

The show will go out on Christmas Day, and Harry says he is going to be "bringing the power, the energy, and the moves!"

Harry is no stranger to winning competitions, having collected Commonwealth and World gold medals.

But can he collect the Christmas Glitter Star trophy?

His partner Nancy won it last year with current contestant Jamie Borthwick, so he is certainly in with a chance.

"This December, I'm gonna light up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way UP. Let’s do this!" he said.

But who will he be up against in this year's Christmas spectacular?

Podcaster, presenter, and fitness expert Vogue Williams was announced as one of the festive contestants.

She will be partnered with Carlos Gu, but said he has his work cut out with her as a partner.

"Carlos would have more of a chance of winning a Nobel prize than turning me into a good dancer, but I am determined to try my very best!"

Drag artist and presenter Tayce will also be joining the Strictly family this year.

She says it is an "incredible honour to be the first Drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam, and discoballs."

She will be put through her paces by Strictly pro Kai Widdrington, who was the 2022 Christmas special champion.

Tayce was a finalist on season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and has modelled in runway fashion shows around the world.

She has also had presenting stints on 91�ȱ� Radio 1 and has released her own rap single.

Comedian and podcaster Josh Widdicombe was the first celebrity to be announced in the 2024 Christmas Strictly line-up, and will be dancing with professional Karen Hauer.

Josh has appeared on many comedy panel shows and live stand-up shows, and more recently lent his voice to a CBeebies animation, Big Lizard.

He says he is "utterly terrified this will end in humiliation".

"I am worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?” he joked.

There are two more contestants to be announced, and all the partnerships are already in training.

Many Christmas special contestants have gone on to compete in the main Strictly Come Dancing show, so could we see one of these in next year's line-up?