Dani Dyer Breaks Silence on Devastating Strictly Exit After Injury

Dani Dyer has broken her silence on her exit from Strictly Come Dancing, describing the decision as devastating and saying she is heartbroken after fracturing her ankle during training. The Love Island alum, 32, was partnered with Nikita Kuzmin and was forced to withdraw from the BBC dance competition before she could perform a routine.

In an Instagram video posted to address the news, Dyer thanked fans for their support and said she plans to step back from social media for a few days to process what happened. “Hi guys, I’m going to try and do this without crying. I am so heartbroken, I have not felt like this in such a long time,” she said, pausing to compose herself and adding that she had been “having the best time ever” prior to the setback. She described the moment as “a very devastating, annoying kind of thing that I’m going through right now.” She also indicated she would take a short break from online activity to cope with the news, while thanking followers for their love and pledging to support the show by watching.

The model and presenter later confirmed details of the injury, explaining that she had a fall on Friday during rehearsals and landed awkwardly. She initially thought she had rolled her foot, but swelling developed over the weekend, and an MRI revealed a fracture in the ankle. Doctors advised against dancing, and she confirmed she had to pull out of the competition. “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle. Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.”

BBC executives acknowledged the setback with a statement noting that Dyer’s departure is a disappointment for the series. Executive Producer Sarah James said Dani had brought “so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly,” and that the team was “incredibly sad that she’s no longer able to compete in this year’s series.” The door was left open for a potential return in the future, with the broadcaster saying they hope to welcome her back to the ballroom at a later date.

Dyer’s exit marks another early departure from the current Strictly lineup. The injury occurred before she had the chance to perform on the live show, a prospect that the production team had publicly eyed as a potential deep run for the contestant. The news follows Kristian Nairn’s withdrawal from the lineup earlier in the year for medical reasons, underscoring the physical toll the competition can impose on its participants.

In the wake of Dyer’s withdrawal, reports on possible replacements circulated, though no official replacement has been announced. A separate report from Daily Mail cited a source claiming that Tillie Amartey had not been in talks to replace Dyer, while noting the show’s history of bringing in a replacement when needed—such as Kelvin Fletcher stepping in for Jamie Laing in 2019. The absence of a formal replacement at this stage leaves the show’s plans fluid as producers assess options.

Dyer has also drawn on past experiences with injuries from her reality TV career, including an earlier stint on Survival of the Fittest that ended early due to a shoulder injury. Her public message on Strictly has been punctuated with gratitude for the support she has received and a clear intention to recover and potentially return to the ballroom in the future. As the season progresses, the show will rely on partnerships already formed and the performances of remaining contestants, while Dyer watches from the sidelines and continues to cheer on her fellow competitors.