Tommy Fury, Gladiators star Nitro wanted for Strictly Come Dancing
Tommy Fury and 'Gladiators' star Nitro are in talks for the new series of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The 25-year-old reality star-and-boxer is in talks with producers, who see him and fiancee Molly-Mae Hague as the perfect names to attract a younger audience, but his high fee demands could end up scuppering the deal.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "They believe Molly-Mae in the audience would also pull in younger fans.
“Producers believe he would be a hit with the ladies.
"But his pay demands are too high.
“They’re hoping he will appreciate how 'Strictly' will generate a new type of follower for him.”
Meanwhile, after the success of rebooting 'Gladiators' in a Saturday evening slot earlier this year, 'Strictly' bosses think it would be great to get former Olympic sprinter Nitro - whose real name is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - on board as a contestant.
The Gladiator appeared on the show in December to read out voting phone numbers and was filmed backstage showing off his moves with one of the programme's professional dancers, Dianne Buswell.
A source said: “'Strictly' chiefs think it’s a great idea to cross-pollinate entertainment shows and cast a Gladiator.
“Nitro is a fan favourite and has a lively personality, so it will be interesting to see how he harnesses that energy on the dance floor.”
A spokesperson for 'Strictly' played down the report.
The representative said: “We don’t comment on speculation."
Meanwhile, show judge Craig Revel Horwood "would love" to see a darts player take to the floor.
He told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: “There’s so many communities we haven’t explored and there’s a plethora of athletes - you know, we’ve had snooker, but we haven’t had a darts person, a world champion of darts.
“I mean, there’s a lot of people that we can still invest in and that’s the beauty about Strictly, that it crosses all different communities and teaches other communities about that community, you know? So I think there’s so many different ways to go with it.
“I would love to see a darts player on there, wouldn’t you? It would be bloody fabulous!”