Celebrity Race Across the World star Billy Monger has been confirmed as the sixth name to join the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024 line-up.
As the Ballroom is once again transformed into a magical winter wonderland, the final celebrity behind the all-star advent calendar doors this year was revealed on Strictly: It Takes Two on Thursday (November 21) evening.
The British racing driver will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova as they attempt the take home the prestigious Glitterball trophy.
Billy has scored podiums in British Formula 3 and followed in Lewis Hamilton's footsteps by winning the Pau Grand Prix in European Formula 3.
He was critically injured in a high-speed collision while racing in Formula 4 which left him with both legs amputated. Despite this, Billy refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside each other.
Billy won the BBC Sports Personality Helen Rollason Award and had a BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary made about his story. He is also a presenter and pundit on Channel 4's coverage of Formula One and the Paralympics.
He recently beat the world record for a double amputee in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii - the toughest endurance event in the world - a BBC documentary on this is being made.
Speaking about joining the star-studded cast, Billy said: "I've spent the last 12 months training 20 hours a week for an Ironman world record attempt, but the thought of donning sequins in front of Craig Revel Horwood fills me with a fear I've never experienced before.
"This is about as far from my comfort zone as it can get! My family are big Strictly fans, so I'm doing it for them and to raise awareness for what I’m doing for Comic Relief next year. I'm just hoping my leg doesn't fall off mid-dance!"
Following the announcement, fans have taken to social media to share their excitement, with one fan writing: "Loved Billy Monger on Race Across the World - can’t wait to see him with Nadiya at Christmas! #Strictly #ItTakesTwo." Another added: "Billy Monger to win that! Get in the boy! #StrictlyComeDancing." A third person said: "Billy Monger on strictly omg."
Joining Billy and Nadiya in the festive show are comedian Josh Widdicombe and Karen Hauer, RuPaul's Drag Race superstar Tayce and Kai Widdrington, presenter Vogue Williams and Carols Gu, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Nancy Xu and Tamzin Outhwaite and Nikita Kuzmin.
In the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, each of the six couples will perform a festive fuelled routine in the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas, and the voting studio audience. But who will emerge the Christmas star of the evening, and lift the sought after Christmas trophy?
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day