The glitzy world of ballroom dancing was left reeling this week after Dani Dyer-Bowen, the 29-year-old Love Island winner, was forced to withdraw from the 23rd series of Strictly Come Dancing following a dramatic injury during rehearsals. Dyer-Bowen, who had only just made her debut on the beloved BBC One show alongside professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, suffered a fractured ankle that abruptly ended her Strictly journey before the first live show could even take place.
The news broke just days after viewers watched Dyer-Bowen take to the dance floor during the series' launch show, which aired on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The excitement was palpable as she and Kuzmin, a fan-favorite professional, prepared to compete for the coveted glitterball trophy. But reality struck on Friday, September 19, when a rehearsal mishap left Dyer-Bowen with what initially seemed a minor injury. "I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend," she explained to her Instagram followers. After an MRI scan on Monday, September 22, the worst was confirmed: a fractured ankle.
Doctors quickly advised her to rest and refrain from dancing, making her withdrawal inevitable. "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 shared in a heartfelt statement. "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." Her raw emotion was clear as she admitted, "I'm going to do this, and try and do this without crying, but yeah, I'm so heartbroken, like I've not felt like this in such a long time. 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, but I'm probably just going to have a few days off my socials just to, you know, process things."
The response from the Strictly family and fans alike was immediate and compassionate. Head judge Shirley Ballas, appearing on This Morning, revealed the chaos behind the scenes as producers scrambled to address the sudden vacancy. "I know her work ethic and when she got onto Strictly I thought, 'They don't know what's hit them!' This young lady is all sparkle, and of course, yesterday, she fell on her ankle, or twisted it, she has a hairline fracture, so she's out," Ballas said. She added that she had spoken to Dyer-Bowen, who was "mortified and devastated," but Ballas encouraged her to consider returning next year, referencing previous contestant Jamie Laing, who made a comeback after his own injury.
Ballas also hinted at possible changes to the show's format as a result of Dyer-Bowen's departure. "I did speak to the executive producer [about a replacement] to try to get an answer for you and they're hustling and bustling to see what they can do, we're a dancer down. So, either, someone won't go home the first week or something like that. But let's hope that someone else will get the opportunity." The show's executive producer, Sarah James, echoed the sentiment of loss and support, 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."
Support poured in from across the Strictly community. Professional dancer Amy Dowden commented, "Sending you so much love and a speedy recovery," and expressed she was "absolutely gutted" for both Dyer-Bowen and Kuzmin. Even Dyer-Bowen's father, actor Danny Dyer, made his feelings known, posting a broken heart emoji on social media in solidarity.
Dani Dyer-Bowen's injury and withdrawal also struck a chord with others who have faced similar heartbreaks. Kelly Brook, a former Strictly contestant who had to leave the show in 2007 following the death of her father, sent a message of support on Loose Women. "I can relate so much. I did it, and I had to pull out week eight. My father passed away when I was on the show and it is like a breakup because you and your partner become so close, you spend so much time together and also, they're very competitive and they want to do well. So you feel like you're letting them down, you feel like you're letting the whole team down. People call in and they vote for you. I couldn't watch it for years after. I'm sure she'll feel the same way. It's really hard to watch when you have to leave," Brook reflected. Her words underscored the emotional toll such an exit can have, not just on the celebrity but on the entire Strictly family.
The ripple effects of Dyer-Bowen's exit were felt beyond her immediate circle. Professional dancer Nancy Xu, who has been part of Strictly since 2019, took to social media to express her own disappointment at not being paired with a celebrity this year. "As you all know I don't have dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing this year… I do feel disappointed. Coming from China and arriving in this country, all I wanted was to achieve my dream. Strictly has given me such a big platform to allow me to show my skills, show my talents. Of course, I felt this year has been left out but I'm good because I'm still part of the Strictly family. You may possibly hear my voice more than ever, I'll give all energy to support my Strictly family," Xu shared. Her candid message drew support from fellow dancers and fans, with Amy Dowden writing, "You are superstar, a beautiful dancer and so loved xxx," and Michelle Tsiakkas adding, "We love you and I'm here for you my girl! We've got each other." Xu was not alone; Luba Mushtuk, Neil Jones, and Michelle Tsiakkas also found themselves without celebrity partners for the 2025 series.
For Dyer-Bowen, this isn't the first time an injury has dashed her reality TV ambitions. Back in 2018, while competing on ITV2's Survival of the Fittest, she suffered a dislocated shoulder during a challenge and had to withdraw after just a day in the show's lodge. It seems fate has dealt her another cruel hand, but her resilience and the overwhelming support from the Strictly community may well see her back on the dance floor in the future.
As the Strictly team regroups and the remaining contestants prepare to dazzle audiences, Dyer-Bowen's absence will be keenly felt. Yet her spirit, determination, and the compassion shown by her fellow dancers serve as a reminder of the show's enduring sense of family—even in the face of heartbreak.
