BBC Strictly fans fume at bosses for ‘scraping the barrel’ with John Nellis announcement: ‘Worst line-up for years!’

Mr Nellis ranks among the biggest sports creators in the UK, boasting a combined following that exceeds 20 million across his social media platforms.

His football-focused videos have racked up billions of views, featuring collaborations with some of the world’s most recognisable athletes.

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Judge Motsi Mabuse and professional dancers Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell were among those welcoming him to the series, commenting beneath the Instagram announcement of his casting.

However, despite such a vast following online, some fans of the show quickly hijacked the comments of the social media announcement with their complaints over the appointment.

“Worst line up in years and I’m normally not the one complaining about the line up,” one Instagram user replied, which was echoed by a second: “Who are these people it’s not celebrities?”

“Honestly, at this point, please retire the show for a year, make some decent changes and come back with a bang the following year,” another suggested, while a fourth argued: “I love Strictly but damn they are scraping that barrel for all they are worth this year.”

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“Strictly is not the same as it used to be. A number of this year’s contestants are unrecognisable to the general audience,” a fifth claimed, while a sixth pulled no punches: “This is shaping up to be one of the worst series. Who are all of these people you’re announcing?!”

However, others argued Mr Nellis’ appointment was a signed of the times. “15.8m subscribers on YouTube, he’s not not famous, you just don’t know who he is,” one fan argued.

And a second similarly stuck up for the signing: “People are saying this guy isn’t a celebrity. Let me tell you just one thing. This guy has more subscribers than Joe Sugg and George Clarke put together he has 15.8M subscribers on YouTube.”

A native of Newcastle in County Down, Mr Nellis gave up his career as an air traffic controller to dedicate himself to content creation on a full-time basis.

The gamble has paid off as he claimed the Sport Creator of the Year prize at the 2024 TikTok Awards UK & Ireland and has built one of the most prominent profiles in the sports digital space.

His work has seen him travel the globe, covering major tournaments and producing content alongside footballing superstars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reacting to his casting, Mr Nellis admitted he remains stunned by the opportunity. “I’m still in disbelief that I’ve been selected for Strictly and, if I’m honest, I’m a little nervous as I’ve never danced before!” he said.

“It’s such an incredible opportunity, and I’m going to throw myself into every moment. I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!”

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Mr Nellis joins a star-studded roster that includes Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb and Tabby Stoecker.

Ms Turner was the first name revealed, some two months ago.

With one celebrity slot still to be filled, the series is expected to launch on BBC One this September.

The upcoming season marks a significant transformation for the long-running programme. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down at the conclusion of the 2025 run, and three new presenters, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, will take the reins in what is a first for the show’s history.

The judging panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas returns unchanged.

The BBC’s casting choices this year reflect a deliberate shift in strategy, according to an insider.

The broadcaster has specifically pursued celebrities with substantial social media audiences in an effort to draw younger demographics to the programme, mirroring an approach that has proved highly effective for its American equivalent, Dancing With The Stars.

“Although your traditional Strictly audience might not know who some of the signings are, that’s not as important as bringing in new viewers who are more than familiar with them,” the source told The Sun. “Their followers are vast in numbers, enthusiastic and, by sharing content on Strictly, raise the profile of the show massively.”