A social media personality competing in this year's Strictly Come Dancing has expressed his amazement at the overwhelming backing he has received from his native region. John Nellis, based in County Down, has acknowledged that he now carries the weight of responsibility for shaping his family's Saturday evenings, as hundreds of people across Northern Ireland tune in to watch his performances each week.
Nellis made his competitive debut on the show's opening live broadcast on 26 September with a Foxtrot routine, earning praise from both the judging panel and viewers. As one of the United Kingdom's most prominent sports content creators—known for interviewing elite footballers including Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe—he said the opportunity to appear on one of television's most-watched entertainment programmes came as a complete surprise.
According to his profile on the official broadcaster, Nellis won Sports Creator of the Year at the 2024 TikTok Awards UK & Ireland, cementing his status as a leading voice in digital sports content. He began building his audience in 2019 while employed as an air traffic controller at Cork Airport, with his channel gaining significant traction during the Covid-19 pandemic. When he departed from that role in 2022, he had already accumulated 7,431 YouTube rs, according to reporting on his career transition.
From Football Interviews to Dance Floor
Having built his reputation interviewing footballers on social media, Nellis has now pivoted to mastering choreography alongside professional dancer Katya Jones, who is in her 11th season on the programme. He revealed he had never taken a dance class before securing his place on the show and is unaccustomed to performing as the focal point of attention.
To transcend social media and to end up on actual media or the TV that we all grew up watching—it wasn't part of the plan—but I am buzzing it is happening because every day I am living someone's dream and I'm coming in and learning to dance with one of the best in the world.
Nellis and Jones topped the leaderboard following their opening week performance, though he acknowledged the experience has presented unexpected difficulties. His first-week Foxtrot earned 31 points, according to independent reporting on the competition.
The Reality of Competition
The initial weeks felt like a honeymoon period, Nellis explained, but the demands intensified rapidly. He described the shift from week one to week two as jarring, when competitors must abandon their previous routines and begin anew with limited preparation time and physical exhaustion setting in.
I think the first week or two was almost like the honeymoon phase of coming in, learning a new dance… and I was top of the leader board somehow, so it was this real high. I think coming in the week after and you have to delete all that because we're going again and starting from scratch and this time you've got four days and your body is really tired and sore… it was a real moment of like 'oh wow this is a lot'.
Regarding his ambitions for the competition, Nellis has adopted a measured approach, focusing on each week as it arrives rather than envisioning a path to the final.
I remember saying to my wife before I started 'I would love to get through week one, I just don't want to be first out' but even if I am first out, even being invited, I've already won. So, the goal right now? I just want to some out and say I've given it everything I have.
The Weight of Regional Support
The magnitude of backing from his home region did not fully register until several weeks into the competition. Nellis comes from a large extended family typical of Belfast, with approximately 30 cousins on his father's side alone. This means several hundred relatives gather each Saturday evening to watch his performances, transforming what might otherwise be a personal challenge into a communal event.
So, there are a couple of hundred people who sit down every Saturday night, and I now make or break their Saturday night.
The support extends far beyond his immediate family circle. Across Northern Ireland, bars are screening his performances, and he has observed widespread enthusiasm for his participation in the programme. He expressed gratitude for this backing while simultaneously acknowledging the psychological burden it creates.
Outside that, the town I'm from, they're showing it on screens in all the bars, and I think across Northern Ireland there's a lot of support. I've been blown away by it, but I also feel that responsibility to have fun. It's almost way bigger than just me and how I feel. It's how hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of people feel.
What Happens Next
Nellis and Jones will perform during Icons Week, featuring routines inspired by some of the most celebrated recording artists in music history. The show is scheduled to return on 17 October at 6:15pm, according to the official series schedule.
Key Facts
- Nellis made his Strictly debut on 26 September with a Foxtrot, scoring 31 points and topping the leaderboard in week one
- He is paired with professional dancer Katya Jones, who is in her 11th season on the programme
- Before becoming a full-time content creator in 2022, he worked as an air traffic controller at Cork Airport
- He won Sports Creator of the Year at the 2024 TikTok Awards UK & Ireland
- The show continues on 17 October with Icons Week performances
