Kristian Nairn, the towering Northern Irish actor best known for his role as the beloved Hodor in Game of Thrones, has just shocked fans with an unexpected announcement. Sadly, he’s pulling out of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing due to health reasons. This unfortunate news comes just a week after he was officially revealed as the final contestant for the show's upcoming twenty-third season.
On Thursday, Aug. 21, Nairn took to Instagram to open up about his decision to withdraw from the dance contest series. He shared that he's been dealing with a “high level of stress and a little bit of grief,” which for the first time manifested physically, affecting his health. He explained that his doctor has checked him and isn’t worried, but he'll need a few weeks to recover.
Unfortunately, the timing of his recovery doesn’t allow him to safely participate in the show’s training and competition schedule, which is why he had to make the difficult decision to step back from Strictly Come Dancing this season.
"Please know I'm OK. I'm under treatment already, and my doctor isn't concerned. After two, maybe three weeks, I'll be pretty much back to normal, but sadly... it's not going to be in time for all the training and everything like that."
However, Nairn made sure to reassure his fans in the Instagram video that he will be back to work and his usual activities soon. After speaking about why he exited the show, Nairn goes on to encourage fans to prioritize their own mental and physical well-being, admitting that he was surprised by how stress and grief affected him and emphasizing the importance of not ignoring what’s going on inside your head.
"We live in strange, crazy times at the moment. So without being preachy, please look after yourself. Don't ignore what's going on inside your head. This is something I haven't dealt with before, so this has really come as a surprise for me. I always thought I had this."
Nairn is not just a talented actor but also a DJ. His role as Hodor in Game of Thrones was his first acting gig. He would go on to lock down more acting projects in television, including his standout role as Wee John Feeney in the comedy-drama Our Flag Means Death. He also had minor roles in other TV shows such as Ripper Street and The Rookie. In addition, he was in a folk horror film titled Unwelcome. His most recent work was voicing the Crowley character in the Dungeon Masters podcast series.
Although Nairn had to sit out this season of Strictly Come Dancing, we're keeping our fingers crossed that once he’s fully recovered, he might get another chance to hit the dance floor in a future season. This would be something completely new and exciting for the actor and DJ, giving fans the chance to see a different side of him as he takes on the glitter, the costumes, and the challenge of ballroom dancing.
Strictly Come Dancing season 23 is expected to start airing on BBC One on Sept. 20, 2025.