Jodie Ounsley has been revealed as the third celebrity contestant for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
The 24-year-old athlete, who appears as Fury in the BBC’s rebooted Gladiators, was announced during Monday evening’s edition of Strictly: It Takes Two.
The Yorkshire-born star will dance with professional partner Neil Jones for the festive programme, airing on Christmas Day, and will join previously confirmed contestants Scarlett Moffatt and Melanie Blatt.
Three more celebrities are still to be named.
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Jodie Ounsley will dance with professional partner Neil Jones for the festive programme
|PA
The Christmas Special will feature six couples competing for the glitterball trophy, and this year’s episode carries added significance as it marks the final appearance of long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who recently confirmed their departure.
Ms Ounsley is set to bring formidable sporting credentials to the ballroom. The former professional rugby player made history in 2019 as the first deaf woman to represent England in rugby and the world’s first deaf female international rugby sevens player.
She is also a British Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, a multiple-time World Coal Carrying Champion, and holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest 50-metre sprint while carrying a 20kg coal bag.
"I'm absolutely buzzing to be doing the Strictly Christmas Special. Being the first female rugby player means a lot to me too," Ms Ounsley said.
"I honestly can't wait to get stuck in — I'm used to smashing into people so this is definitely going to be a challenge!"
Jodie Ounsley is profoundly deaf and wears a cochlear implant
|ITV
The decision to cast Ms Ounsley follows an emerging pattern of Strictly recruiting Gladiators stars due to their competitiveness and physical stamina.
A television insider told The Sun: “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.”
The source added that producers often use the Christmas Special as a “testing ground” before casting contestants in the main series — a tactic that proved successful with Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey), who took part in last year’s Christmas Special before joining the 2025 main series with Karen Hauer.
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Jodie will be lighting up the Strictly Christmas ballroom alongside her Professional dance partner Neil Jones
|BBC
Former Olympian Montell Douglas, known as Fire on Gladiators, also transitioned from the festive special to the main show last year, reaching week ten with Johannes Radebe.
During her It Takes Two appearance, Ms Ounsley expressed excitement about partnering with Jones. “I'm chuffed — he just gets into character, and that's exactly what I need. I think together, we'll be flying,” she said.
The athlete explained that she joined the show for the challenge, telling host Fleur East she wanted “a bit of a challenge” after watching her fellow Gladiators take part.
"If you've seen me on Gladiators, or as a rugby player, I'm focused, I'm serious — with this I'll be able to let go and have fun with it," she added.
In true competitive spirit, Ms Ounsley issued a playful warning to fellow contestant Scarlett Moffatt: “Watch out Scarlett, I'm coming after you love.”
Ms Ounsley is profoundly deaf and wears a cochlear implant, having no natural hearing. Born prematurely, she became deaf in both ears due to early-life antibiotic treatment.
She received a cochlear implant at 14 months old — one of the youngest in the UK at the time.
The implant sends electrical signals to her hearing nerve, which Ms Ounsley's brain interprets as sound, though she still relies heavily on lip-reading, body language and facial cues.
The Gladiator star wears her cochlear implant during rugby matches using a protective scrum cap or foam helmet.
Jodie Ounsley is known as the Gladiator "Fury" in the 2024 BBC One reboot of Gladiator
|BBC
Ms Ounsley’s announcement drew a wave of support online.
"YESSS!!! Let’s go Jodie! Making all of the cochlear implant community proud," said It Takes Two reporter Tasha Amber Ghouri, who also wears a cochlear implant. A fan added: "Definitely — it makes me so proud as I wear hearing aids."
Fellow Gladiator Emilly Steel commented: "YESSSS THIS IS EXCITING!" (sic), while weightlifter and influencer Lystus Ebosele wrote: "WOW I CAN’T WAIT." (sic)
Support also poured in from Strictly personalities.
Ms Ounsley’s professional partner Mr Jones posted: “Let’s go partner,” Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Nitro) added: “Let’s go Fury!”
However, not everyone shared the excitement.
“Nope, no idea who this is,” one disapproving viewer wrote, while another demanded: “We need some male celebs announced next.”
This year’s Christmas Special marks a significant milestone for Strictly fans as Daly and Winkleman host for the final time.
Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will return to judge, with the studio audience choosing the winner.
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