Tillie Amartey denies replacing Dani Dyer on Strictly Come Dancing as Dani withdraws with ankle injury

Tillie Amartey has ruled out reports that she is in talks to replace Dani Dyer on Strictly Come Dancing after the Love Island star was forced to withdraw from the show due to a fractured ankle. The Waterloo Road actress, 22, who recently left her role on the BBC school drama, had been the subject of speculation about a late entry to the lineup. A Daily Mail source reported that Amartey had begun negotiations as a potential late addition, but a separate insider pushed back, saying no decision has been made on whether Dani will be replaced and that Amartey had not been in contact with Strictly Come Dancing.

Dani Dyer’s withdrawal was confirmed on Tuesday after she sustained an ankle fracture during training. In a statement, Dyer explained that she fell during Friday rehearsals, felt swelling over the weekend, and an MRI confirmed the fracture. “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 wrote. “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. To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”

The decision prompted BBC Studios executives to acknowledge the setback while leaving the door open for a possible return. Sarah James, Executive Producer for BBC Studios, said that Dyer had brought “so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly,” and that the partnership with Nikita Kuzmin had started strong. She added that everyone on the show is saddened by the turn of events and that the team hopes to welcome Dyer back to the ballroom in the future. The news also noted that Dyer’s withdrawal makes her the second participant to bow out before the first live show of the new series, following Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn’s earlier removal for medical reasons.

The report of Amartey’s potential replacement sparked discussion about lineup balance. An insider quoted by The Sun suggested there was an imbalance in gender representation, with nine male celebrities and six female celebrities in the mix, and that producers would want to maintain parity in both gender and age diversity if a replacement were made. Amartey, who played Stacey Neville on Waterloo Road since 2024, previously appeared on Strictly’s Christmas Special in 2023 and had recently stepped away from her long-running role, fueling rumors of the possible change in her career trajectory.

Tillie Amartey’s public comments have focused on denying talks with Strictly Come Dancing at this time. The Daily Mail reported that she had quit Waterloo Road to pursue a “game changer” project and had been traveling from her Leeds home to London for conversations with television executives in recent weeks. However, the outlet cited unnamed insiders stating that bosses had not decided whether to replace Dyer, and Tillie had not engaged in any formal discussions with the show.

Tillie Amartey’s career move is part of a broader conversation about how Strictly Come Dancing fills vacancies when a star exits. The production has emphasized that it remains open to the possibility of inviting a replacement if deemed appropriate, while also ensuring the show’s competitive balance and casting dynamics. Dyer’s audience and supporters have followed the news closely, with many wishing her a swift recovery and expressing hope she may return to the ballroom in due course.

As the Strictly Come Dancing season continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether any late-season casting changes will be announced. For now, BBC officials have underscored the possibility of Dyer’s return while confirming that there is no definitive replacement, and Amartey has publicly stated that she is not currently in talks to join the competition. The situation highlights the pressures of live television production and the challenges of assembling a cast that satisfies both creators and fans alike, even as stars navigate other opportunities in their careers.