Strictly’s Kristian Nairn quits this year’s show over medical reasons with his replacement set to be announced tonight

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Actor and disc jockey Kristian Nairn won’t be participating in the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing due to health-related concerns.

Kristian Nairn has shared that he must take a break from the current season of “Strictly Come Dancing” because of unforeseen health issues, expressing regret about his departure.

I had been eagerly anticipating the trip, and I sincerely regret that I won’t be able to meet expectations for those hoping to see me dance.

I appreciate everyone’s backing, and I won’t be down for long – I’ll bounce back swiftly in all aspects. Sending love to each and every one of you, Kristian.

It’s been a real pleasure getting acquainted with Kristian over these past few weeks, and we believe he has the potential to shine as a fantastic contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. Unfortunately, we must bid him farewell from this year’s competition, and we extend our well wishes for his swift recovery.

Kristian is particularly recognized for portraying Hodor in the popular fantasy TV show, Game of Thrones. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches tall, he openly admitted that he’s concerned about how his towering stature might affect his dancing experiences.

In my perspective as a lifestyle enthusiast, I’m eagerly embracing this upcoming hurdle, which promises to test my physical limits significantly. Yet, I can’t help but feel awestruck and grateful for the unique and thrilling prospect that lies before me – the chance to step out of my comfort zone by learning to move gracefully with one less foot on my journey!

Tonight at 7pm, the latest star who’ll be dancing on Strictly Come Dancing will be unveiled on The One Show, available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Saturday night television used to shine brightest when Strictly Come Dancing was on, drawing in countless viewers eager to watch their favorite personalities dance elegantly in splendid outfits, all vying for the sparkling Glitter Ball trophy.

Now, in anticipation of the forthcoming seasons of the show, betting agencies are presenting odds as low as 8-1 that this series may be its last, due to a string of controversies, an underwhelming cast primarily consisting of minor celebrities, and a higher number of male participants than female. And indeed, these reasons seem justified.

The popular BBC series has noticeably lost its luster following the allegations against former contestant Wynne Evans, aged 53, regarding inappropriate behavior. These accusations included an offensive sexual comment made during a public appearance, prompting an apology and ultimately his resignation from the Strictly tour.

In 2023, Amanda Abbington, a renowned actress aged 51, expressed concerns about professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, who was 34 at the time, behaving in an unnecessarily harsh, abusive, and mean manner during their rehearsals. These behaviors, she asserted, led to her decision to leave the season prematurely.

In that same year, ex-contestant Zara McDermott, aged 28 from Love Island, was deeply affected after an encounter in the training room with Graziano Di Prima, 31. This incident involved Di Prima confessing to kicking a documentary maker, which led to his termination.

It seems that a larger number of male celebrities are participating this season, as opposed to females – there are nine males versus six women. The selection criteria for participants has apparently been relaxed by organizers compared to before.

This year’s cast features several previous reality show participants like Dani Dyer, who won Love Island; Vicky Pattison, a former Geordie Shore participant; Tom Skinner, a contestant on The Apprentice; La Voix, a runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race; and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known for his role as Gladiator.

Previously, it was forbidden for influencers and reality TV stars to participate, but now, even former contestants like Tom (from The Apprentice who was dismissed by Lord Sugar in 2019) are considered famous enough to join. One Daily Mail reader commented: “More than half of them aren’t celebrities.

The underwhelming roster hasn’t escaped the notice of many, as thousands of Strictly enthusiasts have expressed their concerns on platform X, with one commenting, “The very depths have certainly been thoroughly cleaned out.

One person commented, “The Strictly line-up is complete and it’s just terrible,” while another wrote, “This starting line-up is definitely the worst. It makes me wonder if the last two years have damaged its reputation so much that this could be the beginning of its downfall.”

In other words:

* The first person expressed their disappointment with the final line-up for Strictly, calling it terrible.
* The second person shared similar sentiments, saying that the starting line-up was the worst they had ever seen and questioning whether the show’s reputation has suffered in recent years as a result. They even suggested that this could be the start of the end for Strictly.

‘Safe to say this is the worst Strictly line-up of all time,’ another user posted.

John Hughes stated: ‘This year’s celebrity line-up is one of the least compelling and underwhelming I’ve seen in a while. It appears that the show continues to struggle with attracting women participants, perhaps due to past controversies involving the male professionals.’

‘Time for Strictly to be rested as a result series and have three or four specials per year?’

A different user on X remarked that this year’s cast seems less glamorous. They suggested that maybe a study should be conducted to confirm if the Strictly line-up truly gets less glamorous each time, or as one might suspect?

According to a report, Strictly appears to have lost its former charm. It has been marred by one controversy after another, making it challenging for the show to regain its previous status.

Initially, managers were quite strict about the selection process, but now they’re opting for celebrities who have graced numerous platforms, with some like Vicky even claiming victory on “I’m A Celebrity.” The rules seem to have loosened up a bit.

The absence of female participants in this year’s cast is indicative of a larger issue. It seems that the controversies of past years may be deterring women from participating, and despite some efforts to improve safety during training, more substantial changes are needed to alleviate their concerns and encourage greater female involvement.

As a devoted admirer, I find it disheartening to acknowledge that our cherished show, which was adored by audiences of every age group, seems to be shrouded in an undeniable gloom. Regrettably, there’s a palpable sense that this could mark the final installment of the series. Even industry insiders share this belief.

Following the controversy surrounding Strictly Come Dancing, where drug allegations emerged against two of its prominent figures who were reportedly caught using cocaine, I found myself in a situation where these whispers and rumors permeated our tight-knit community.

This unexpected turn of events called for a swift response and a renewed commitment to maintaining the professionalism and integrity that define our collective spirit. We were all reminded of the responsibility we bear as representatives of this cherished program, and the importance of upholding its values in the face of adversity.

This month, the BBC initiated an investigation regarding allegations of drug use. Last week, it was reported in the Sun on Sunday that a performer who has been part of their program for ten years was once offered cocaine by a fellow star at a lively gathering.

2024 saw a decrease in the number of female contestants on Strictly, and this trend continued into the following year, resulting in fewer females participating for two consecutive years.

After Amanda shared her experiences from competing on the show, there were now nine well-known men and just six women among them.

In a Channel 4 News interview last July, Amanda characterized the period following her stint on Strictly as harsh and merciless due to receiving death threats from fans of her dance partner, Giovanni.

She said: ‘There were five or six people previous to me that had the same experience.

In simpler terms, ‘I found it unwarranted and when it felt like criticism was being hurled at me, I would become defensive. Given my past experiences with abusive situations, I recognized warning signs and responded by shutting down. This reaction left me unable to perform my duties effectively because I felt under attack… It wasn’t a positive atmosphere for me.’

2016 saw TV host Laura Whitmore, paired with Giovanni, expressing feelings of being shattered and crying daily while participating on the show, as she stood by Amanda in her assertion against the professional dancer from Italy the previous year.

After an examination by the BBC, it was found that six of Amanda’s claims against Giovanni were validated. However, he was acquitted on 11 out of 17 other charges. Since then, Giovanni, now in a relationship with Bianca Guaccero, has emerged victorious in the Italian adaptation of the competition.

In this year’s lineup, you’ll find Balvinder Sopal from EastEnders, Kristian Nairn known for Game of Thrones, footballer Karen Carney from the Lionesses, Ross King, a showbiz correspondent on Lorraine, and Ellie Goldstein – an influencer who made headlines as the first model with Down syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue.

Additionally joining the dance floor of “Strictly” next month will be Chris Robshaw (a rugby player), Stefan Dennis (an actor from Neighbours), George Clarke (a popular YouTuber), Alex Kingston (actress known for Doctor Who), and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (a well-known sportsman).

BBC bosses will be praying for an unforgettable series to give the show its sparkle back. 

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2025-08-21 17:19