DANI Dyer has quit Strictly Come Dancing days before the live shows after injuring her ankle in training.
Dani’s exit dropped just as the cast was putting the final polish on their first live dances.
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She had taken part in the launch show — filmed ahead of transmission — where her partnership with Nikita was revealed to viewers.
The plan was to hit the floor this weekend, but the fracture means she won’t make it to that first Saturday night.
It’s a tough blow for Dani and for Nikita, who was ready to kick off the series with a crowd-pleasing ballroom number.
Here’s what happened and where things stand with a replacement.
Why has Dani Dyer pulled out of Strictly 2025?
Dani suffered a nasty ankle injury during rehearsals and has been forced to withdraw on medical advice.
She fell during a Friday training session, her foot ballooned over the weekend, and a hospital scan confirmed a fracture, leaving doctors with no choice but to bench her for the series.
The timing is brutal, coming just days before the first live show after she’d already filmed the pre-recorded launch where her pro partner was revealed.
In an emotional update to fans, Dani explained that continuing would risk exacerbating the injury.
She’d been gearing up for a fast ballroom routine in week one, but admitted taking to the floor with a fracture simply wasn’t possible.
The Love Island winner said she was gutted to walk away so close to the live shows after throwing herself into training.
What did Dani say about quitting?
The TV favourite struggled to hold back tears as she confirmed her exit, calling it “heartbreaking” to bow out before she’d had the chance to perform live.
She also thanked viewers for their support and said she’d be cheering the remaining couples on from the sofa while she focused on healing up.
Dani was particularly disappointed not to get her shot with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin after their pairing was unveiled on the launch show, saying she’d hoped to make her mark on the ballroom this year.
What has Nikita Kuzmin said — and could Dani return?
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Nikita broke his silence with a heartfelt message to fans and to Dani, praising her effort in the training room and saying he was proud of how hard she’d worked before the injury struck.
He admitted he was “gutted” to lose his celebrity partner so close to week one, and hinted he’d love the chance to dance with Dani in the future when she’s fit again.
In a further update, Nikita suggested the door isn’t closed on Dani appearing down the line in some capacity — whether that’s a studio visit later in the run or even a comeback in a future series once she’s fully recovered.
Is Dani Dyer being replaced?
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The BBC has confirmed Amber Davies is stepping into the Strictly 2025 line-up after Dani Dyer’s shock withdrawal with a fractured ankle.
Amber won Love Island in 2017 and has since established a successful stage career, starring in West End hits such as 9 to 5: The Musical and Pretty Woman: The Musical.
Thrown straight in at the deep end, Amber will make her Strictly debut in the first live show on Saturday, September 27.
She and Nikita are set to perform a Waltz as they bid to get their scores on the board and settle those first-night nerves.
What this means for week one
The live show will go ahead with a new name slotted into the line-up if producers can finalise the replacement in time.
The incoming celebrity will need to fast-track rehearsals to match the rest of the cast, and their debut dance is likely to be a classic ballroom routine that can be polished quickly in the studio.
Expect a supportive welcome from the judges and some leeway from viewers as the new pairing finds its footing under pressure.
When is Strictly 2025 on?
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The pre-recorded launch has already aired, revealing the celebrity-pro pairings and giving fans a first look at the glamour.
The live shows start this Saturday night on BBC One, with catch-up available on BBC iPlayer shortly after transmission.
Week one traditionally has no elimination, so viewers will get to see every couple — including the late replacement — take to the floor before the first vote opens the following week.