Gladiators star Nitro has admitted that being ‘dressed down’ on Strictly Come Dancing felt like ‘the worst thing in the world’.
The sprinter and TV personality, who took part in the most recent series of the BBC One dancing competition, returns to the Gladiators arena this weekend as the hit show starts its third series.
Nitro, real name Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, will join his fellow Gladiators as they once again take on the show’s series of superhuman challenges, head to head with a new group of super-fit contenders.
Nitro, 37, compared the sports entertainment show to the BBC’s dancing competition as he was asked which of the two were ‘more competitive’.
He told the Radio Times: ‘I would say Gladiators is far more competitive, because there’s an actual gamesmanship around it. You can’t compare your Rumba to someone else’s Argentine Tango.
‘But what I would say is that Strictly can dress you down. You have to be strong. You have to be able to take the feedback.
Gladiators star Nitro has admitted that being ‘dressed down’ on Strictly Come Dancing felt like ‘the worst thing in the world’
‘If you make a mistake, it can feel like the worst thing in the world, so there’s more of a mental aspect to understanding the process, and having to stay true to yourself through it.’
Elsewhere, Nitro’s fellow Gladiators opened up on what viewers can expect from the new series, including a game that had them asking ‘is this safe?’.
Sabre, real name Sheli McCoy, 37, teased: ‘I am the most excited about this series coming out, because not only are there new games, but they’re bringing back a classic, and when they told us about them, I was like, “You want us to what? Is that safe?”’
While Zack George’s Steel added: ‘The contenders have come back bigger, faster, stronger – which obviously doesn’t bother us, because we are bigger and faster and stronger.
‘But we could tell this time they’d been watching and studying the games. There was a big difference in their strategy.’
Montell Douglas’ Fire continued of what she hopes to see of this series’ contenders: ‘When you’re in the Gladiator arena, we always say that it’s like David versus Goliath, but actually I want everyone to bring 100 per cent, because I’m going to bring 100 per cent.’
And Jodie Ounsley’s Fury admitted there was one thing she wasn’t looking forward to: ‘Seeing your friends or yourself getting injured.
‘But you know that’s the risk of playing a tough sport, or doing a TV show. Everyone gets tweaks and niggles – contenders and Gladiators. It’s about how you adapt and crack on with it.’
It comes after Nitro’s Harry fought back tears as he broke his silence on his shock show axe after failing to impress the judges on Strictly Come Dancing.
He waved goodbye to the series in November after a tense dance off against Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix, alongside professional dance partner Karen Hauer, leaving fans up in arms.
Watching back his best bits from the series on screen, Harry looked to be overcome with emotions as he told host Fleur East: ‘That was tough.’
Choking up, Harry continued: ‘Just thank you everyone. The magic of Strictly is something you only see on telly but to actually truly live it, breathe it.
‘It’s the people, it’s yourself, it’s Karen, it’s everyone behind these cameras, it’s the make-up, the wardrobe, the runners, everyone in this building.
‘You see something on TV for a couple of hours and it’s the people behind it that keep you uplifted, that keep you smiling, that make you wanna be that great individual.’
He added: ‘Shout out to our runner Rebecca, she’s been like a little sister, taking care of us. Everyone makes it so special so I just want to say thank you to you all.’
The Gladiators star first took part in the series during its Christmas special last year, before being brought back for more on the dance floor.
When Tess Daly asked Harry about his time on Strictly following the dance-off, the Olympian and Gladiators star said: ‘I think, first things, I just want to thank Karen, genuinely, you have given me an opportunity to shine.
‘You’ve understood my crazy brain. I’m such a logical person, trying to dance – and obviously doing what I do – Olympic sprinter, Gladiator – now I’m trying to be a dancer.
‘I just want to thank you so much for the time and effort, the hard work that you’ve given to me. You show up, you turn out.’
He added: ‘I want to thank everyone here. Literally, this has been a dream come true. This is a celebration. It’s a celebration.
‘I spoke to my daughter and she didn’t like seeing her dad sad, and when she saw me sad last week, she was like, “Daddy what’s wrong?” and I wanted to show everyone that, no matter what happens, there’s always a silver lining.
‘But this is an experience for me. So, thank you for this lovely gift, and at the end of the day, we carry on, we give it to them, and we continue to shine. Do you know what I mean?’