GLADIATORS star Jodie Ounsley – aka Fury – will be taking in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing festive special.
The former rugby union player and jiu jitsu champion will be one of eight stars appearing on the show on Christmas Day.
3 Jodie Ounsley is the latest star to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas specialCredit: Alamy
3 The star is better known as Fury on the Gladiators Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Yorkshire-born Jodie, 24, has been one of the biggest stars of Gladiators since it rebooted on BBC One last year.
A TV insider said: “Strictly love signing up the Gladiators stars, partly because they’re fit, competitive and throw their all into everything they do.
“Plus viewers only normally get to see them show an aggressive side, whereas taking part in the dance contest challenges them to show a different side to their character.
“And producers often use the Christmas show as a ‘test-run’ before hiring them for the main show further down the line.”
This year former sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – who is the Gladiator Nitro – dazzled on the main series with pro partner Karen Hauer.
But he first showed his potential as a competitor on the festive show in 2024 with
Nancy Xu.
Former Olympian Montell Douglas – better known as Gladiators’ Fire – also took part in the main series last year and made it through to week ten with
Johannes Radebe.
A small number of contestants have already been revealed to be appearing on this year’s Christmas special, which will be the last time viewers see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host the show.
They include former All Saints singer, Melanie Blatt, as well as Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt.
Big Brother host Will Best and Angelica Bell are also both in talks for the show.
3 Gladiator Nitro – Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – first appeared on the Christmas special himself