A stunning twist rocked Strictly Come Dancing fans this week when it was announced that Dani Dyer, widely regarded as one of the frontrunners to claim the coveted Glitterball Trophy, had to withdraw from the competition due to an ankle injury. This unexpected development left many viewers shocked and disappointed. Dani, best known for her win on Love Island, had been paired with the talented Ukrainian-born professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin. Now, Nikita has finally spoken out about Dani’s sudden exit and intriguingly hinted that she might make a comeback to the show in 2026. He shared a heartfelt post featuring several snapshots of their time together in rehearsals and on the dance floor, including a candid moment where Dani described their dance as "weird."
In his message, Nikita expressed deep sadness over their journey ending prematurely, saying, "I'm so gutted that our adventure ended before it even truly began. The laughs and fun we shared in such a short time were incredible! I really cherished our partnership and hope that one day we get to make it to week one properly. But health always comes first. I’m wishing you all the best, @danidyerxx. You’re such a lovely, positive, and wonderful person! It breaks my heart knowing how excited you were to give your absolute best on the show. Hopefully, we can pick things up next year :) Sending love from #danita or #dakita or #Nani (we still haven’t decided on our team name yet)."
Fans quickly flooded the comments with messages of support. Dani herself replied emotionally, "I'm crying again, thank you for being the best teacher ever. You are the kindest, most amazing person. I’m going to miss our laughs and dancing together. Let’s definitely try again one day and finally settle on our team name." Another fan wrote, "Absolutely gutted for you both! I had you down as my winners and was so excited to see what you’d bring to the dance floor. Looking forward to next year when you can reunite."
Others shared their disappointment and hopes for the future: "So sad Dani had to pull out. I think you two would have done really well. I hope they find you a new partner for this year," said one. Another added, "So sorry your journey ended before it really began. Wishing Dani a speedy recovery and hope you’re doing okay too!" A fifth fan commented, "Really disappointed for you both… fingers crossed Dani is back fighting fit next year. Strictly just isn’t the same without you this year."
As of now, it remains unclear whether Dani will be replaced on the show. Historically, replacements have happened before; for example, in 2019, Jamie Laing had to withdraw after an injury during the launch show and was replaced by Kelvin Fletcher, who went on to win the competition. However, any substitute faces challenges, such as less rehearsal time and the difficulty of building chemistry with a new partner on short notice.
Regarding Dani’s injury, she shared a heartfelt statement on Instagram explaining, "I had a fall during rehearsals last Friday and landed awkwardly. Initially, I thought I had just rolled my foot, but it swelled badly over the weekend. After an MRI scan yesterday, it was confirmed I have a fractured ankle. Apparently, doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable (!!) and the doctors have told me I’m not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show. Saying I’m heartbroken is an understatement. I’m going to miss dancing with Nikita so much but will be watching closely and cheering on all the couples."
Sarah James, the executive producer at BBC Studios, also expressed her support, saying, "Dani brought so much passion, joy, and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to a sensational start. Everyone on the show is incredibly sad she can’t continue in this year’s series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery and very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future."
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should the show allow injured contestants to return in future seasons, or does this set a precedent that could complicate the competition’s fairness? And what about the impact on replacements who have less time to prepare—does this disadvantage them unfairly? These are questions worth debating. What do you think? Should Dani get a guaranteed spot next time, or should the competition start fresh for all? Share your thoughts below!
