Strictly Come Dancing star says 'I'm heartbroken' as she shares Dani Dyer update
In the wake of Dani Dyer's shock departure from this year's Strictly Come Dancing, her 'best Strictly pal' Vicky Pattison has spoken of her disappointment – and predicted Dani's eventual return
With the Strictly Come Dancing live shows set to start this weekend, there will be one famous face missing from the line-up. Love Island winner Dani Dyer has been forced to quit the BBC show after a freak accident in rehearsals with professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin.
Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, who had been sharing a dressing-room with Dani during the early stages of this year’s Strictly, has spoken frankly of her great regret that Dani won't be taking part She hinted that while the 29-year-old TV personality is "heartbroken," she could be back for next year’s shows.
“I feel gutted for her and Nikita,” she said on Angela Scanlon’s Get A Grip podcast. “I really thought she was going to be all right.”
Vicky explained that, while at first Dani’s injury was thought to have been just a bad bruise, an MRI later revealed that it was a fracture.
“On a personal level,” Vicky added, “I'm absolutely gutted. It would be dead easy to pit two people like me and Dani against each other – little reality TV girls, whatever you want to say. But actually she was just my best Strictly pal. She was a human ray of sunshine.”
Vicky added that she was bitterly disappointed that Dani wouldn’t be taking part in the rest of the series. She continued: “She was a good little dancer,” she said. “I didn't even care that she was the favourite to win. I just wanted to do it with her.”
Vicky said that Dani had a “lovely vibe,” and that she’d be missed by everyone on the show, and predicted that she would return to compete again in 2026. “I have no doubt she'll be back next year and she'll absolutely smash it,” she said.
Dani had announced her departure from this year’s Strictly late on Tuesday, 23 September, explaining: "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 l'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."
She added that she was going to take a few days off from social media “just to process things”.
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas posted a sympathetic message for Dani, writing: “I’m so so sorry. But health is most important. Get well soon Angel.”
Professional dancer Amy Dowden added: “Sending you so much love and a speedy recovery", while Dani’s dad, Eastenders star Danny Dyer, simply posted a broken heart emoji.