The social media star, from Newcastle, County Down, has been paired with Katya Jones in this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Nellis quit his job as an air traffic controller four years ago and is now flying high on social media as one of the UK's biggest sports content creators, with a combined audience of more than 20 million followers across social media.

BBC News NI has spoken to people in his hometown about how they feel about him Cha Cha Cha-ing across the famous Strictly dancefloor.

One of Anna Monteith's best friends is John's younger sister Fiona, so she has known him most of her life.

"He's one of the most genuine people that I know, he's bubbly, charismatic, he can talk to a room full of people and is the exact same person day and night," she said.

"It is all down to his family and his upbringing and it really shines through - when he's on stage or in his local for a pint."

Monteith added that she will be tuning in to the show, calling it "a milestone for him - it is a great inspiration to all the kids in the local area".

"To see someone go so far, which in the past may have been a dream to meet Ronaldo or Messi, to a young boy in a classroom that is inspiration enough, that could mean he will do his GCSEs or A-levels and will go on to do that and follow in the footsteps," she added.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when most planes were grounded Nellis had more time to work on his hobby - making videos, which led to him becoming a full time content creator.

His football-focused YouTube channel has attracted 16 million subscribers and more than 11 billion views.

Alan Imrie is the event supervisor in the Anchor Bar in the Newcastle.

He first met Nellis playing football with Tullymore United and from in and around the town.

"It is unbelievable what he's done, from working in air traffic control to give it all up to just skyrocketing from there," he said.

"Anytime he comes in here he is just the same down-to-earth guy. He would always go out of his way for kids wanting photos."

Nellis is still involved in the community, Imrie explained.

"We had a charity game at Christmas there and he managed to get the likes of Shane Todd etc to play in it.

"He sponsors a lot of our youth, he's put a lot of money into our football club, which is unbelievable.

"Fame can change people, but John just goes out of the way to talk to anyone."

A former pupil at Shimna Integrated College from 2004-2011 Nellis even came back to the school as a lab technician in 2013.

"He was so friendly and one of those pupils that did speak to teachers, he was confident in himself and he liked a bit of craic.

"We have a programme every June where we get our former students to come back and talk to our students about their careers. I contacted John and he agreed to come back".

However all did not go to plan as the day before Manchester United had announced a big signing and had asked Nellis to do a video around it - but he still did a call in the midst of it all.

"It was an online call, in the airport and he was fantastic," said Poland.

She said it was good for the students to hear both the "challenges and opportunities" he had on the way to YouTube success.

Jack McMullin said Nellis's "content is class" and added that he will often call "in locally for a pint, you see him round the street and he's a lovely bloke to talk to".

"He's over meeting YouTubers in England and footballers, Haland and stuff - some achievement that you'd never expect from someone around here."

Grace Susay is a language teacher at Nellis's alma mater and said he has the "personality to engage different types of people and talk to people, which not everybody has".

Susay said his recent attention was "great for the local community to see somebody that they would know from around the town actively doing something and to be putting themselves out there".

What does she think of his chances of bringing home the Glitterball?

"I'm really looking forward to him doing some Latin dances," she added.

"As someone who teaches languages, if he can pull off the Salsa, the Paso [Doble] that would be fantastic - I could see him pulling that off."

Nellis will join the ranks of other celebs from Northern Ireland such as Gloria Hunniford and Christine Lampard who have appeared on the show before.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to iPlayer and BBC One from 18:15 BST on Saturday 26 September.