Strictly Come Dancing update on Dani Dyer as she's handed a lifeline

Reality TV star Dani Dyer will get another chance to lift the Glitterball trophy after being forced to pull out of the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing due to injury.

The Love Island winner, who was paired with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, said she was "heartbroken" on Tuesday night as she announced she is unable to compete after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals.

In their statement confirmed the news, BBC bosses revealed Dani, 29, is welcome to return to the dancefloor next year. Sarah James, Executive Producer for BBC Studios said: "Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to the most sensational start.

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"Everyone on the show is incredibly sad that she's no longer able to compete in this year's series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery, and we very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future."

Dani is no stranger to heartbreak when it comes to physical reality TV shows. Prior to becoming a household name thanks to her 2018 stint on Love Island, the mum-of-three made an early exit from ITV2 series Survival Of The Fittestafter picking up a shoulder injury on the first day.

It's not yet been announced if Dani will be replaced on the 2025 series. The eldest daughter of actor Danny Dyer is the second celebrity to withdraw from this year's line-up. Game Of Thrones star Kristian Nairn withdrew due to "unexpected medical reasons" before the launch show even aired on Saturday night.

Dani told her Instagram followers she will take "a few days off my socials" to process her departure and will eventually return to set to cheer on the remaining cast.

Seemingly holding back tears, she said in the video on Tuesday evening: "Hi guys, I’m going to do this, and try and do this without crying, but yeah, I’m so heartbroken, like I’ve not felt like this in such a long time.

"I was having the best time ever… It’s just (a) very, very annoying, devastating thing that I’m kind of going through right now, but I’m probably just going to have a few days off my socials just to, you know, process things. I just want to thank you all so much for all your love and support. But yeah, I’m gutted, I’m absolutely gutted."

Everyone at Strictly "is absolutely amazing" and "I’m going to miss them all so much", she said, adding: "I will eventually obviously come along and cheer them all on."

In a statement shared earlier on Tuesday, 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.

"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."

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