Vicky Pattison has tipped her best friend Dani Dyer to lift the Glitterball Trophy on Strictly Come Dancing this year. The former Geordie Shore star, 38, who competed on the BBC show last year, said of the former Love Islander: “She's gonna smash it. And if I was a betting woman, I’d say she's going to win it, too.”
High Praise for Dani Dyer
Pattison, who finished in eighth place with pro dancer Kai Widdrington, described Dyer as “cuter than a bunny in a bow tie. So sweet and genuine and lovely.” She added: “I was at her 30th birthday last Saturday. I honestly just wanna wrap her up in cotton wool. And I want her to have the best experience. I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with her even more.”
Dyer, 30, daughter of actor Danny Dyer, was due to compete last year but had to pull out due to injury. Pattison said she is understandably “a little nervous” this time round, noting: “She had that quite nasty injury at the start of last series and, you know, once bitten, twice shy… But she’s strong, and she's been training so hard.”
No Advice From a 'Nervous Wreck'
Pattison, who battled serious nerves during her own stint, joked she is not in a position to give Dyer tips: “Oh, I don't want to be dishing out advice. I was a nervous bloody wreck! I just told her to enjoy it, you know? I hope she gets a great pro, and embraces every single second.”
She also dismissed criticism of the show’s changes, including the new presenting trio of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and former pro Johannes Radebe, plus five new pros. Pattison said: “I read the comments, because I'm chronically online… ‘Oh, it won't be the same,’ ‘there’s too much change,’ blah, blah. That's just such an instinctual reaction because change is just a bit uncomfortable.”
Defending the New Line-Up
Though she adored former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman and was “shocked” when they stepped down, Pattison understands their decision: “They spent years doing this - it's only right that they get to try something new or have the Saturday nights back, you know?”
She praised the new hosts: “Emma Willis is absolutely beautiful, smart as a tack, a safe pair of hands. JoJo, I'm really excited that he's been given this platform to show just how charismatic and funny he is. And the inclusion of a comedian in Josh is genius. Life is hard, the world is scary. Let's have some comedy, some sparkle!”
Responding to complaints that some celebrities are not well-known enough, Pattison, who fronts a campaign for Nivea Essentials, said: “Wouldn't it be amazing if the people who write this crap in the comments, rather than say that, just didn't write anything? Imagine, if they took a breath and thought, I might not know who this person is, because they're outside the realm of what I think is interesting - but I might find an interesting new person to follow. I just don't get it.”
Pete Wicks' Happiness
Pattison also spoke about her friend, ex-TOWIE star Pete Wicks, who came fifth on Strictly in 2024 and recently went public with his relationship with Kiss FM co-star Olivia Attwood. She said: “All I’ve ever wanted was for Pete to be happy. And listen, he’s the happiest I’ve ever seen of him. He’s a lovely guy. And honestly, as long as he’s happy, I’m happy.”
