From Haaland and Mbappé to Strictly, Nellis 'never imagined' joining hit show

A social media star more accustomed to creating content with some of the biggest names in world football, says he "never imagined" his career would lead him to a spot on Strictly Come Dancing.

John Nellis, who boasts over 16 million subscribers on YouTube, has interviewed Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé, Manchester City's Erling Haaland and England captain Harry Kane to name a few.

But after stepping out of his comfort zone and onto the dance floor, he has impressed the Strictly judges alongside his dance partner Katya Jones.

Nellis said the pressure of dancing in front of the nation is challenging enough but he also feels personally responsible for "making or breaking" his family's Saturday nights.

Nellis, from Newcastle in County Down, said he had never attended a dance class before being offered a spot and isn't used to being centre stage.

The content creator said his YouTube journey "snowballed" and eventually led to an email from the Strictly team during the summer, inviting him for a trial.

"Very quickly I ended up going from holiday at the World Cup to doing a trial dance in London and they said they'd have me and I was just buzzing," he said.

Nellis added: "The goal was never particularly high and then 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," he said.

Nellis and his dance partner Jones, who is now in her 11th season on the show, topped the leader board after week one. But Nellis admits it hasn't been without its challenges.

"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'."

As for going the whole way to the final and winning the show, Nellis said he is just taking it week by week.

"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 come out and say I've given it everything I have."

Nellis says he has no grand visions of winning but admits he's starting to feel the pressure of making his family's weekends.

"It didn't really land on me until a week or two in just how much it really meant at home. I have a huge family, I have like 30 cousins on my dad's side alone, a typical Belfast Irish big family.

"So, there are a couple of hundred people who sit down every Saturday night, and I now make or break their Saturday night," he said.

"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."

You can watch John and Katya in action on BBC One at 18:15BST on Saturday night as they take on Icons Week, with routines inspired by some of the best-loved recording artists in history.