One of Game of Thrones’ most memorable stars is breaking new ground in their career, taking on a role that marks a first for the long-running franchise. Known for bringing Hodor to life in Westeros, actor Kristian Nairn is now stepping into an entirely different world — one that fans might not have seen coming.
Nairn has become the final celebrity to join the cast of the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing, and in doing so, he’s made Game of Thrones history! Despite Strictly Come Dancing being in its 23rd season, the show has somehow never managed to lure a named actor from the Game of Thrones cast to the ballroom, with Nairn becoming the first Game of Thrones star to compete on the long-running dance competition show!
“This will be a huge challenge for me physically, but I’m ready to rise to it! It’s a surreal and wonderful opportunity to shed one of my left feet,” Nairn joked.
Standing at a commanding 6’10”, Nairn will not only be the first Game of Thrones star to compete on the show, but he’ll also be one of the tallest competitors the show has seen. This is something that will surely create some interesting challenges for the Hodor actor and his Strictly Come Dancing pro partner, who will have to get creative when it comes to crafting their routines.
While we’ve never seen a member of the cast compete on the show before, way back in 2017, Emilia Clarke sent a special message to contestant Susan Calman when she performed a Game of Thrones-themed foxtrot. With Nairn taking to the ballroom this fall, it’ll be interesting to see if any of his Game of Thrones costars show up to support him in his journey, either by sending a video message or dropping into the ballroom to cheer him on.
Strictly Come Dancing season 23 cast includes Game of Thrones and Doctor Who stars
Season 23 of Strictly Come Dancing is shaping up to be an exciting one for fantasy and sci-fi fans! Not only will the cast include its first Game of Thrones star in Kristian Nairn, but the star-studded cast also includes one of the biggest names from the world of Doctor Who. Among the first stars announced to compete in season 23 is legendary actress Alex Kingston, best known for her role as River Song in Doctor Who as well as her eight-season run as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on NBC’s ER.
In addition to Nairn and Kingston, the cast includes a mix of athletes, TV personalities, soap stars, and even an Olympic gold medalist. Here’s a breakdown of the full cast of celebrities set to compete in the upcoming season of BBC One’s hit series:
- Olympic gold medalist and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
- Love Island winner Dani Dyer
- Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston
- Dutch footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
- EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal
- YouTuber, podcaster, and social media star George Clarke
- Queen of the Universe and Britain’s Got Talent star La Voix
- Rugby star Chris Robshaw
- Model, actor, and influencer Ellie Goldstein
- TV personality Thomas Skinner
- TV personality Vicky Pattison
- Neighbours star Stefan Dennis
- Hollywood correspondent and author Ross King
- Sports presenter and Lioness Karen Carney
- Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn
At this time, a premiere date has not yet been set for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing. However, the new season is expected to kick off sometime this September, with a premiere date likely coming soon.