Tillie Amartey parties at SHEIN event as Strictly replacement rumors swirl

Tillie Amartey attended the SHEIN VIP launch party for its AW London pop-up on Thursday, amid rampant speculation she could replace Dani Dyer on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The Waterloo Road star, 22, who recently left the hit drama, has been eyed as a late addition to the Strictly lineup after Love Island’s Dani Dyer fractured her ankle in training. Amartey told the Daily Mail that, while the chatter is all sequins and speculation, the Christmas special was special for her and she would never say no to Strictly. “I would never say no to Strictly... but the main priority is Dani having a speedy recovery,” she said.

At the pop-up, which runs public dates from September 26–28, Amartey mingled with fellow attendees including Shaughna Phillips (who is pregnant), Phoebe Tomlinson and Meryl Williams. The star arrived in a leggy look, pairing black leather hot pants with a Missguided Playboy jacket and strappy heels. The SHEIN AW London pop-up is staged at the Future Stores space on Oxford Street, described as a tech-driven concept that blends media and retail with high-definition screens and interactive elements to showcase new-season fashion.

Rumors that Tillie was in talks to join Strictly gained traction after Dani Dyer fractured her ankle in training, but a Daily Mail source and BBC officials cautioned that no formal decision had been made. A spokesperson for the show indicated there had been no contact with Amartey and that bosses were weighing options as they monitor Dyer’s recovery.

Tillie played Stacey Neville on Waterloo Road starting in 2024 and had previously taken part in Strictly’s Christmas Special in 2023. She had recently quit Waterloo Road to pursue other opportunities, according to multiple reports cited in the buildup to the current chatter.

Dani Dyer’s withdrawal from Strictly was confirmed on Tuesday after she fractured her ankle during a training rehearsal. BBC Studios executives said the door would be left open for her return in the future, and the statement noted that she would be missed by the team and fans. Dani had been paired with Nikita Kuzmin when the news broke. Kristian Nairn, known for his role in Game of Thrones, had already withdrawn for “unexpected medical reasons” before the season began.

Insiders have floated the idea that the show is trying to maintain a balance of gender and ages among its contestants. An unidentified insider told The Sun that producers were mindful of having more female participants to balance the lineup and maintain variety. The discussions around replacements and timing reflect a broader question about how Strictly will fill the vacancy if Dyer cannot return this year.

In the interim, BBC representatives emphasized that no replacement had been confirmed and that decisions would be made with Dyer’s health as the priority. Tillie Amartey’s name remains among the names circulating in entertainment media, but the network has not announced any new participant as of this report.