Dani Dyer has spoken for the first time since it was confirmed that she will return to Strictly Come Dancing in 2026, following a devastating injury that forced her to withdraw from the 2025 series.
Last year, the Love Island winner was paired with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin during the 2025 launch show in September. However, she had to pull out on September 23, just days before the first live show on September 27, after fracturing her ankle during rehearsal. She was replaced by fellow Love Island star Amber Davies, who finished as runner-up to former footballer Karen Carney and professional dancer Carlos Gu.
Dani Dyer's Return to the Ballroom
Dani has now been confirmed as part of the celebrity lineup for the Strictly 2026 series. The BBC has begun revealing contestants for the beloved programme, which returns in September.
In a statement released on Thursday, June 11, Dani said: “I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!”
She also appeared in a video message on Strictly's Instagram Story, where she said: “Hi everyone. I’m so excited to say that I’m going to be back in the ballroom this September. I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to see everyone else that’s on it. See you soon, Strictly!”
Since her injury, Dani has been seen winning Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. She is now eager to finally compete on Strictly and showcase her dance moves.
