John Nellis confirmed for Strictly
Popular sports creator and former air traffic controller John Nellis has been officially confirmed as the latest celebrity joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 lineup.
Popular sports creator and former air traffic controller John Nellis has been officially confirmed as the latest celebrity joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 lineup.
New Cast Announcement: YouTube star and football content creator John Nellis is joining the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing lineup.
Release Date & Platform: The new series will air on Saturday and Sunday nights this autumn on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, kicking off this September.
Star Power: Nellis boasts over 20 million followers across social media, having worked with football legends like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Erling Haaland.
Full Confirmed Lineup: Nellis joins Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, Laurence Robb, and Tabby Stoecker.
Social Media Sensation John Nellis Swaps Football Pitch for the Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Come Dancing is returning for 2026, and YouTube star John Nellis is the latest star set to put on his dancing shoes. The announcement was shared across @bbcstrictly’s official Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube channels.
Originally from Newcastle in County Down, Nellis made the bold leap from his career as an air traffic controller to pursue full-time sports content creation. The move paid off: today, he stands as one of the UK’s leading digital stars, boasting a combined audience of over 20 million followers and billions of video views. Recognized as Sport Creator of the Year at the 2024 TikTok Awards UK & Ireland, his recent collaboration with Manchester City star Erling Haaland alone generated over 60 million views.
Despite his massive online success, the internet personality admits that taking to the BBC One ballroom is a whole new challenge.
John Nellis says: “I’m still in disbelief that I’ve been selected for Strictly and, if I’m honest, I’m a little nervous as I’ve never danced before! It’s such an incredible opportunity, and I’m going to throw myself into every moment. I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!”
The 2026 Strictly Cast So Far
Nellis joins a diverse group of stars already confirmed for the upcoming season, including:
Lacey Turner & Dani Dyer
Delta Goodrem & Jaime Winstone
Bethany Antonia & Cach Mercer
Chris Appleton & Will Best
Dame Sarah Storey & Tabby Stoecker
Shaun Wright-Phillips & Graeme Hall
Laurence Robb
The BBC Studios Entertainment production will dominate weekend television starting this September. Additional celebrity contestants and launch details are expected to be unveiled throughout the rest of the summer. Viewers can already add the brand-new series to their watchlist on BBC iPlayer.
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