Dani Dyer withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing after ankle fracture as turmoil deepens

Dani Dyer has fractured her ankle during Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals and has withdrawn from the BBC competition, the latest development in a season that has seen the show grapple with injuries and off-screen controversy.

The former Love Island contestant, 29, confirmed the news in a statement in which she explained a Friday fall left her unable to safely continue training. She said: "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." She added that attempting the quickstep on a fracture was not advised and doctors had ordered her not to dance, signaling she would have to pull out of the competition. "To say I'm heartbroken is the biggest understatement," she wrote, as she reflected on the decision.

Dyer was scheduled to partner with pro Nikita Kuzmin and would have performed a quickstep in the first live show, set for this weekend. In her message, she said she would miss dancing with Kuzmin but pledged to support her fellow contestants from the sidelines: "I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on." The reality star also noted she had been nervous about performing live prior to the injury.

The injury adds to a wave of turmoil surrounding Strictly Come Dancing this season. It comes weeks after actor Kristian Nairn, who competed on the show, announced he would step back for medical reasons, prompting questions about makeup of the remaining lineup. Nairn’s exit followed heightened scrutiny of the series after Thomas Skinner, who is paired with pro Amy Dowden, drew attention when he left a press conference amid questions about his appearance on the show.

BBC Studios executive Sarah James lauded Dyer’s contributions, saying she had brought "so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly" and that her partnership with Kuzmin had been off to a sensational start. James added that the production crew was saddened by the news and wished Dyer a swift recovery with hopes she could return to the ballroom in the future.

The transfer of Dyer’s slot, if any, remains uncertain on the eve of the weekend’s first live show. As with prior seasons, it is not yet clear whether the BBC will appoint a replacement in time for the competition’s launch. In 2019, for instance, Jamie Laing pulled out just before the live rounds and Kelvin Fletcher was brought in as his replacement, going on to win the Glitterball Trophy with Oti Mabuse.

Meanwhile, Lewis Cope—Emmerdale actor tapped to partner with Katya Jones in the wake of Nairn’s exit—has faced fan criticism over his extensive dance background, which some viewers argue could be a hurdle rather than an asset. Jones herself has described Cope’s history as a potential hindrance, telling the Radio Times that turning him into a ballroom dancer would require unlearning years of prior training. Cope acknowledged the sentiment, joking that he had not worn a tap shoe in 17 years, while stressing his willingness to learn.

Adding another layer to the season’s press attention, Skinner’s personal disclosures last week—publicly admitting to an affair that he described as a 'moment of madness'—have kept the show in the headlines as producers balance star power with public scrutiny.

As the network weighs its options, BBC executives emphasized the priority remains the safety and health of contestants while continuing to deliver the show’s signature performances. The public-facing plan for filling Dyer’s spot, if any, will be announced by the network as the weekend live show approaches.