Dani Dyer withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing after ankle fracture; BBC leaves door open for return next year

Dani Dyer has been forced to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing after fracturing her ankle during training, the BBC confirmed on Tuesday. The former Love Island winner, 29, was set to partner with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, but the injury will prevent her from performing on this year’s series. BBC bosses stressed that the door would be left open for a return next year, saying they hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future.

Dyer’s injury occurred during a training rehearsal on Friday, with The Daily Mail breaking the news before she publicly confirmed it. In a statement, Dyer explained that she had a fall and landed awkwardly, initially assuming she had rolled her foot but later learning she had fractured her ankle. She added that continuing to dance while healing would be unsafe and that she was heartbroken to miss the show, but would be watching and cheering on the remaining couples.

Executive Producer Sarah James of BBC Studios paid tribute to Dyer, 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 everyone on the show was saddened by the news and expressed best wishes for a swift recovery, reiterating the hope to welcome Dyer back to the ballroom in the future.

Dyer’s withdrawal follows a turbulent pre-season period for Strictly, which has already seen Kristian Nairn, the Game of Thrones actor, withdraw for medical reasons before the first live show. The absence of a replacement to date has sparked questions about how the new series will proceed. On Wednesday, Tillie Amartey, star of Waterloo Road and a contestant on the Strictly Christmas Special in 2023, denied reports that she was in talks to replace Dyer. A Daily Mail source had claimed that producers were weighing replacements, but a show insider said there had been no decision.

Historically, the show has rotated replacements when a contestant withdraws, though that path is not guaranteed. In 2019, Jamie Laing pulled out after an injury during the launch show and was replaced by Kelvin Fletcher, who went on to win with partner Oti Mabuse. Laing later returned to compete the following year. Injuries have long been a reality of Strictly’s demanding schedule, with former players including Tony Adams, Nigel Harman and Will Bailey among those who have left the competition for health reasons.

Dani Dyer’s history in reality television has been unusually eventful. Before her 2018 Love Island victory, she had planned a run on ITV2’s Survival of the Fittest, but the competition ended for her on the first day after a shoulder dislocation during a waterslide challenge. The new Strictly setback echoes that earlier interruption, though this time the show’s producers have left open the possibility of her return to dance floors in the future. The statement from BBC urged patience while Dyer focuses on recovery and urged fans to stay tuned for updates about her possible return to the ballroom next year.