The dance floor drama continues! In a shocking elimination, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, the 37-year-old athlete and former Team GB sprinter, has been sent packing from the beloved BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing. But this exit is not without its fair share of controversy and emotion.
Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro on Gladiators, and his partner, the talented Karen Hauer, faced the dance-off against RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec. And here’s where it gets interesting: all four judges voted to save La Voix, leaving Aikines-Aryeetey to hang up his dancing shoes.
The athlete, who had previously appeared on the 2024 Christmas Special with Nancy Xu, expressed his gratitude for the experience. He called Strictly a ‘dream come true’ and praised Hauer for her dedication, saying, ‘You’ve understood my crazy brain… You show up, you turn out.’ Hauer reciprocated the sentiment, commending Aikines-Aryeetey’s work ethic and gentlemanly demeanor.
But the real tearjerker came from ER and Doctor Who star Alex Kingston. She bravely revealed her struggle with numerical dyslexia, which made performing the paso doble to a lyric-free song a daunting task. This confession highlights the challenges celebrities face on the show, leaving us wondering: how much do we truly know about these stars’ hidden struggles?
As the competition heats up, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal continues to impress, avoiding the dance-off despite three previous appearances. With emotions running high and surprises at every turn, who will be the next to leave the Strictly ballroom? Tune in to find out!