Vicky Pattison has expressed her devastation after Dani Dyer was forced to withdraw from the new series of Strictly Come Dancing due to a fractured ankle. The Love Island winner, 29, suffered the injury during rehearsals just days before the first live show was set to air.
Pattison, 37, who is also competing in the series alongside professional partner Kai Widdrington, revealed that she and Dyer had been sharing a dressing room. Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, she said: 'She'll be a big miss. She was my little dressing room buddy and my Strictly best pal other than Kai. I know she's gutted, but we're gutted to lose her. She was a ray of sunshine, a brilliant little dancer and just a nice person. I hope she'll be back.'
Dyer announced her exit in an emotional Instagram post, explaining that she had fallen during rehearsals and later discovered she had fractured her 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,' she wrote.
Meanwhile, head judge Shirley Ballas hinted that producers are considering having no elimination in the first week to account for the reduced number of dancers. Executive producer Sarah James added: 'Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly... We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery.'
Pattison and Widdrington will perform the cha-cha-cha in the first live show, as they aim to impress the judging panel.
