Dani Dyer-Bowen has withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals. The 29-year-old former Love Island winner, who was partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, said she was 'heartbroken' to leave the 23rd series following a fall on Friday.
In a video shared on Instagram on Tuesday evening, Dyer-Bowen fought back tears as she explained her departure. '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,' she said. She added that she would take a 'few days off my socials' to process the news before returning to support the remaining cast.
A statement earlier on Tuesday confirmed the injury: '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.'
Head judge Shirley Ballas responded on the show's Instagram account: 'I'm so so sorry. But health is most important. Get well soon Angel.' Dyer-Bowen's father, actor Danny Dyer, posted a broken heart emoji. She is the second celebrity to withdraw this series, following Kristian Nairn, who left for medical reasons last month and was replaced by Emmerdale's Lewis Cope.
