John Nellis Strictly Come Dancing, Digi Mart USA News (Northern Ireland): John Nellis has attracted a new group of admirers through his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, with older viewers, described by him as grannies, calling him gorgeous. The YouTuber, who is known for football content featuring Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo, has gained about 20 million football fans across his channel.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, the 33-year-old said his YouTube channel has grown by a further million subscribers after nearly two months on the BBC ballroom show. He partners with professional dancer Katya Jones.
He said his fan base is normally teenage boys and men in their 20s, and that his female audience had previously been about 30 to 40 percent.
John previously worked as an air traffic controller before leaving that job to pursue football content online. He said he had once dismissed celebrities who praised the show as corporate, but he now believes it has had more impact than any of his YouTube videos.
He described watch parties in pubs and family gatherings ahead of Saturday night broadcasts.
He said he was more nervous working with Ronaldo than with other footballers, and that the dancing had left him feeling like a bag of nerves before Saturday. The duo earned 35 points last weekend for a tango, and he said he was relieved not to be the first celebrity eliminated.
John also said he has lost over a stone since starting the programme and that his body is holding up despite fatigue. He added that he hopes to reveal a more toned physique on the show.
He is also preparing for the birth of his first child with his wife, Shannon, due in February.
