Strictly Come Dancing 2025, one of the BBC’s crown jewels and a staple of British weekend television, has been rocked by the early and emotional exit of contestant Dani Dyer. The 29-year-old, who had quickly become a fan favorite, was forced to withdraw from the competition before even performing her first routine, after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals. The news, first reported by the Daily Mail and confirmed by the show’s official channels, has left fans, fellow contestants, and her professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin reeling.
Dani’s injury occurred on Friday, September 19, 2025, during a training session as she and Nikita prepared for the series launch. At first, Dani thought she had merely rolled her foot. But as the weekend wore on, her ankle swelled alarmingly, prompting a visit for an MRI scan on Monday. The scan revealed a fracture, making it impossible for her to continue. In a heartfelt statement, Dani shared, “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. 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. To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.” (Daily Mail, BBC Instagram)
The announcement of Dani’s withdrawal came on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, with the BBC’s official Strictly account posting, “Unfortunately due to an injury Dani Dyer is no longer able to compete in #Strictly 2025. She’ll be sorely missed and we wish her a speedy recovery.” The outpouring of support from fans was immediate and overwhelming, with many expressing their disappointment and wishing Dani a swift return to health. Dani herself, visibly emotional, took to Instagram to thank supporters and explain her absence from social media. “I am so heartbroken, I have not felt like this in… in such a long time. I was having the best time ever. It’s just a very devastating, annoying kind of thing that I’m going through right now,” she said, fighting back tears. “I am probably just going to have a few days off my socials just to process things. But I just wanna thank you all for all of your love and support. But yeah, I am gutted, I am absolutely gutted. I love everyone at Strictly, I am going to miss them so much but yeah I obviously will eventually come along and cheer them all on. But I just want to thank you for all of the love.” (Daily Mail)
For her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, the news was equally heartbreaking. The day after Dani’s announcement, Nikita posted a moving tribute on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes photos from their brief time training together. “So so gutted to have finished our journey before it even properly started. The amount of laughs and fun we had in this short time was unbelievable. Really loved our partnership and hope that one day we can actually get to week 1 lol but, health is the most important thing. I’m wishing you the absolute best Dani, you’re so lovely, positive and a wonderful human being. And it breaks my heart knowing how excited you were to do your absolute best on the show!” he wrote. Nikita even joked about their yet-to-be-decided team name, adding a touch of levity to a difficult moment. (Daily Mail)
Strictly’s executive producer, Sarah James, added her own words of praise and hope, stating, “Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to the most sensational start. Everyone on the show is incredibly sad that she’s no longer able to compete in this year’s series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery, and we very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future.” (Daily Mail) This sentiment was echoed by BBC bosses, who confirmed that the door remains open for Dani to return in a future series.
Dani’s abrupt exit is not without precedent on Strictly. In fact, she is the second contestant to withdraw from the 2025 series before the first live show. Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, had already stepped back from the lineup due to “unexpected medical reasons.” Kristian expressed his own disappointment, saying, “With a heavy heart, I have to step back from this season of Strictly Come Dancing. I was truly looking forward to the journey, and I’m deeply sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking forward to seeing me on the dance floor. Thank you all for your support and I will be back on my feet very soon, in every sense.” (Daily Mail)
The question on many fans’ minds is whether Dani will be replaced this season. As of September 24, 2025, there has been no official confirmation from the BBC regarding a replacement. Rumors circulated about Waterloo Road star Tillie Amartey, who previously appeared on the Strictly Christmas Special, but she quickly denied any contact with the show’s producers. Historically, Strictly bosses have only replaced a contestant at this stage once before: in 2019, when Jamie Laing was substituted by Kelvin Fletcher, who went on to win the series. (Daily Mail)
Former Strictly professional James Jordan, now a resident entertainment betting expert, weighed in on the situation, telling Freebets.com, “Yeah, I mean, obviously I’m gutted for Dani. It’s horrible to have to pull out because of an injury — especially if it happened while dancing, from what I’ve heard — which is such a shame. I feel sorry for her. I’m sure it’s a childhood dream to be on the show. And I feel for Nikita, too. On paper he had someone who could get to the final: she’s young, has dance training, she’s pretty, she seems funny — people would have liked her. So yes, I do think it’s a loss for the show, but there are lots of other people out there. I don’t know why there’s this big panic about it, as if it’s, ‘Oh my God, what are we going to do?’ Well—ask someone! Either ask someone else to do it, or don’t eliminate a couple in the week someone would have gone home anyway. I just don’t see the big issue. Get someone else in — someone would jump at the chance to do the show.” (BBC)
Jordan also pointed out that contestants who withdraw early sometimes get a second chance: “It’s happened a couple of times before where people have had to pull out and they’ve been able to come back the next year. Because she hasn’t actually started the show — if she were halfway through, I’d say no — there’s definitely an opportunity for her to return. It would be nice if she did.” (BBC) This possibility is a small comfort for Dani and her supporters, especially given that her previous reality TV stint on ITV2’s Survival Of The Fittest was also cut short on the first day due to injury.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the remaining contestants preparing to dazzle audiences in the weeks to come. But for many, the absence of Dani Dyer — tipped by some as a potential finalist — will be keenly felt. Whether she returns next year or not, her brief, heartfelt presence has already left a mark on viewers and colleagues alike.
As the glitter settles and rehearsals continue, the Strictly family, both on and off the dance floor, is reminded just how quickly dreams can be dashed — but also how hope, resilience, and a bit of sparkle can always find their way back to the ballroom.
