Dani Dyer Reveals Ambition for Strictly Come Dancing Comeback Following Injury Setback
Dani Dyer has openly declared she would "love" another opportunity to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, after a devastating injury forced her to withdraw from the BBC show's most recent series. The Love Island star was paired with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, but their partnership never reached the live stage due to Dyer fracturing her ankle prior to the first broadcast.
Emotional Interview on The Jonathan Ross Show
During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, scheduled to air on Saturday 21 February, Dyer candidly discussed her truncated Strictly journey. "I'd love to do it again. If they rang me, I'd answer the phone," she stated, reflecting on the profound disappointment of her exit. "I was devastated. It was hell for me when I hurt my foot, I was so sad." Dyer is promoting her new ITV programme, The Dyers' Caravan Park, alongside her father Danny, in which they attempt to revitalise a caravan park.
Precedent for Second Chances on Strictly
There is historical precedent for injured contestants receiving another shot at the Glitterball trophy. In 2019, Jamie Laing was compelled to withdraw before performing fully after sustaining an injury during the launch show filming. He returned in 2020 and progressed to the final, demonstrating that comeback stories are possible within the competition's format.
Dyer announced her departure from Strictly last September, telling fans, "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." She was swiftly replaced by fellow Love Island alumna Amber Davies, who had less than two days to prepare for her debut.
Amber Davies' Controversial Strictly Stint
Davies impressed judges with her performances, quickly establishing herself as a formidable contender. However, the 29-year-old faced significant backlash from some viewers, who argued her West End career provided an unfair advantage. Criticism escalated towards the final, with Kuzmin revealing Davies endured "hate every single day."
In an emotional speech during the live semi-final, Kuzmin praised Davies' resilience, saying, "You came every single day into the training room with a big smile, ignoring everybody. You were always so kind, you're so caring." He became tearful, adding, "You care more about me when I'm supposed to care about you. You care about me every single day. You are such a lovely, positive person." Kuzmin appealed to Strictly fans, urging, "Please, please be kind because it costs nothing and you don't deserve none of that."
Despite being the highest-scoring couple in the final, achieving a near-perfect 118 out of 120 points, Davies and Kuzmin lost the Glitterball trophy to former England footballer Karen Carney. The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.25pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
