Kevin Clifton announces surprising condition that would see him return to Strictly

Strictly Come Dancing has been without Kevin Clifton for three years now, but one celebrity signature could reel him back in.

The professional dancer himself revealed as much on social platform X this weekend, after heavyweight champion wrestler Will Ospreay came out and announced he'd like to make history in the BBC ballroom.

"I will be the first wrestler on strictly come dancing @bbcone," he wrote.

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Clifton, who lifted the prestigious Glitterball trophy with the mother-of-his-child Stacey Dooley in 2018, reshared the athlete's post, along with the words: "If that happens - I will be the first @bbcstrictly pro to return to Strictly Come Dancing".

The pair's potential team-up was certainly welcomed by X users, as several enthusiastically commented: "OH MY GOD YES PLEASE", "After years, and years of trying to get my Mrs watching wrestling, this would definitely be the way to reel her in. I will even watch strictly properly" and "Guess I'm keeping that TV licence for while longer. Absolutely cannot risk missing this. Make it happen Aunty Beeb."

Born in the London borough of Havering, Ospreay first made waves on the wrestling circuit in 2012 with British promotion Progress Wrestling before passing through Revolution Pro Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Ring of Honour, and All Elite Wrestling.

Since its inception, Strictly has cast a whole spectrum of sports stars, including footballers, Olympians, paralympians, and cricketers - but never a wrestler.

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On his Strictly exit, choreographer Clifton previously suggested that age played a key factor in the decision, so he must be a huge fan of Ospreay to consider a homecoming.

"If I was 23 it would be different. I'd be looking at Strictly and thinking, 'I can stay on this for the next 10 or 15 years', and I would have done because I loved it so much. But I think at 37-years-old I was thinking, 'I'm going to turn 38' on the next series," he said on The Kevin Clifton Show podcast.

"Me leaving gives younger dancers a chance to come through now. No-one is bigger than the show."

Watch: Layton and Nikita perform passionate tango to stun Strictly judges