Dani Dyer-Bowen, best known for winning the fourth series of ITV's Love Island, has opened up about her upbringing, her famous father Danny Dyer, and her ongoing battles with self-belief on the latest season of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The Channel 4 reality series, which aired its most recent episode on January 11, 2026, provided a raw and revealing look into the personal life of the 29-year-old television personality, who is determined to prove her strength both mentally and physically.
During a candid "mirror interview" segment on the show, Dyer-Bowen reflected on what it was like growing up as the daughter of one of Britain's most recognizable actors. Despite Danny Dyer's tough-guy persona—he's famed for playing Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter on EastEnders from 2013 to 2022, and starring in cult football films like Mean Machine (2001) and The Football Factory (2004)—his daughter painted a very different picture. "It was OK, really. I think I get a lot of the whole thing that he’s like this hard man and all that, and he genuinely ain’t, like he’s the softest person," she said, as reported by the Press Association. She added, "We’ve lived a very, very normal life, considering he has been so famous."
In fact, Dyer-Bowen credits her mother, Joanne Mas, as the real disciplinarian at home. "My mum's the hard man of the family, but I've already been alright with having him as a dad. We've lived a very, very normal life considering he has been so famous," she shared in an emotional moment on the show, according to The Mirror.
Her reflections on family extended to her teenage years. "I chatted a lot, I always got in trouble for chatting," Dyer-Bowen admitted. "I just chose terrible boyfriends, but my mum and dad always knew where I was. I wasn't one of them kids where they were ringing up the police, I thought I was pretty stable in that sense." This stability, she suggested, provided a foundation that helped her weather the storms of public life and personal challenges.
But the journey has not been without its difficulties. Dyer-Bowen has been open about her struggles with anxiety, self-doubt, and the harsh glare of public scrutiny. "I just want to be stronger. I want to believe in myself. I don’t have any self-belief at all," she confessed on Celebrity SAS. The relentless criticism from strangers, she said, often outweighs positive feedback. "A million people could say ‘you look lovely’ but if that one person says I’m ugly, then I’ll believe that one person." She admitted, "I've always been an anxious person. I'm really, really hard on myself. I always judge myself and when I get criticised all the time by people I don't know, people hate me, people will say horrible things about me. It definitely feeds into my anxieties and my worries."
Her father, Danny Dyer, has expressed concern over her sensitivity. "When I went into the industry, my dad was like, ‘you’ve not got thick skin at all, I worry for you with that’," she recalled. These words echoed as she entered the grueling world of Celebrity SAS, a show that thrusts celebrities into military-style challenges under the unforgiving North African sun. Contestants are divided into Team UK and Team Australia, with no traditional eliminations; instead, participants are either culled by the directing staff or leave of their own volition.
Dyer-Bowen’s motivation for joining the show was deeply personal. "I really hope with this selection that I’ll conquer that and sort of just change my way of thinking a little bit. I hope that it teaches me that I am a stronger person than what I think I am, but I do think it will be hard for me," she said, as reported by DonegalLive.ie. She described the experience as "one of the hardest things" she has ever done, sharing on Instagram before the show’s premiere, "This is one show I’ve been absolutely really excited for you all to see, but also petrified because it was one of the hardest experiences of my entire life."
Her appearance on Celebrity SAS comes after a setback in September 2025, when she was forced to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing due to a fractured ankle sustained during rehearsals. Despite this disappointment, Dyer-Bowen has continued to push herself, seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth.
Outside of her career, Dyer-Bowen’s personal life has also been eventful. In May 2025, she married footballer Jarrod Bowen, after welcoming twins Summer and Star in May 2023. She also has a son, Santiago, born in 2021 with former partner Sammy Kimmence. That relationship ended after Kimmence was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for scamming pensioners out of £34,000, a chapter that brought its own share of public attention and emotional turmoil.
Reflecting on her journey and her evolving identity, Dyer-Bowen told The Mirror, "I feel like I’m really finding myself again. I’ve had five years obviously with all the kids and now they’re growing up a little bit. You start finding yourself a little bit again—what you like and what you don’t like. I’m finding my feet. In this industry, you have your ups and downs but I feel at the moment that I’m really enjoying everything I’m doing and appreciating it all."
Her path to fame began with Love Island, where she won over viewers alongside Jack Fincham. Since then, she has navigated the complexities of public life, from reality TV to motherhood, and now the rigors of Celebrity SAS. On this latest show, she joins a diverse group of famous recruits, including World Cup-winning rugby player Ben Cohen and former cricketer Graeme Swann, all vying to prove their mettle under the watchful eyes of the show’s directing staff.
As Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues to air on Channel 4 on Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm, viewers are offered a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the struggles and resilience of someone who, despite her public persona, faces the same doubts and insecurities as anyone else. Dyer-Bowen’s openness about her vulnerabilities and her determination to overcome them has resonated with many, providing a powerful reminder that strength isn’t just about physical endurance or fame—it’s about confronting your fears head-on, even when the world is watching.
For Dani Dyer-Bowen, the journey is far from over, but her willingness to share her story, warts and all, is a testament to her growing sense of self and her refusal to be defined by the expectations of others.
