John Nellis, a prominent YouTube content creator celebrated for his football-themed videos, has transitioned from sports to ballroom, joining the 2026 cast of Strictly Come Dancing. He is partnered with long-time professional dancer Katya Jones.
The 33-year-old social media personality is among the famous faces participating in this year's competition, alongside individuals such as Dani Dyer, Melanie Walters, and Delta Goodrem. Nellis, who hails from Newcastle, County Down, was an air traffic controller until four years ago, before dedicating himself to content creation.
Nellis's YouTube channel, which features interactions with football stars like Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, now boasts 16 million subscribers. He also has 2.6 million followers on TikTok, where he was named Sports Creator of the Year in 2024. Nellis has expressed his disbelief and nervousness about joining Strictly, stating he has never danced before.