STRICTLY’S Head Judge Shirley Ballas has opened up on behind-the-scenes chaos after Dani Dyer was forced to quit, as the show “scrambles” to find a replacement.
The Love Island winner has been forced to pull out of the contest just days before it begins after fracturing her ankle.
Strictly’s Head Judge Shirley Ballas has opened up on behind-the-scenes chaos after Dani Dyer was forced to quit[/caption]
Dani was forced to pull out after an ankle fracture[/caption]
News of Dani’s sudden exit was first revealed yesterday.
TV favourite Dani was set to compete with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 27, and perform a quickstep in Saturday’s first live show.
Now, all eyes are on who will take her place, with just days to go until the first live show, and Strictly’s Shirley has weighed in on the conversation.
Appearing on Wednesday’s This Morning, hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard asked the 65-year-old who Dani would be replaced by.
Shirley told them: “I spoke to Dani yesterday and she’s absolutely mortified and devastated.
“But I said to her, with some of these pivoting moments, she could come back next year.
“Like Jamie Laing where he came back and made the final, so all is not lost.
“But we do all wish her the best recovery and it’s always health first when it comes to our show.”
Ben then pressed Shirley on whether they’d found a replacement, to which Shirley added: “Well, I did speak to the Exec Producer to try and get an answer for you this morning.
“But they are hustling and bustling to see what they can do and how they can do it, and we’re a dancer down so it’s either someone isn’t going to go home the first week or something like that.
“But let’s hope that they get someone else and someone else gets the opportunity to share our show.”
Dani was forced to leave the show on Tuesday following the painful injury in training last Friday.
A “heartbroken” Dani confirmed the news with a statement yesterday after being told by doctors that she’d be unable to dance.
Strictly Come Dance 2025 lineup
Strictly Come Dancing news and the latest line up
- Nitro from Gladiators will be showing off his dance moves on this year’s show.
- Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston has signed up.
- Chris Robshaw, former Harlequins and England rugby captain.
- Eastenders actress Suki Panesar, has moved from Walford to the ballroom.
- Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has been confirmed.
- George Clarke, a YouTube star, joins Strictly.
- Dani Dyer, joins with previous dancing experience.
- La Voix is the first drag star to join the main series
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink swaps is football boots for dancing shoes.
- Ellie Goldstein became the first contestant with Down’s Syndrome to take part.
- Thomas Skinner is swapping the boardroom for ballroom dancing
- I’m a Celeb winner Vicky Pattison has been announced.
- Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope was announced as the last contestant.
- Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn pulled out of the show before the launch date over medical reasons.
It read: “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.”
Dani continued: “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.”
The TV star was set to perform at the first live show on Saturday and had been preparing to take to the dancefloor.
Dani’s replacement
Following her shock early departure, bosses have opened talks with actress Tillie Amartey, 22.
A source told The Sun: “Tillie recently quit her role on Waterloo Road telling pals it was to make way for ‘another big’ project, which could be a game changer for her career.
“She’s been making several trips from her Leeds home to London for discussions with TV execs in recent weeks. The feeling is that if she is filling the shoes vacated by Dani, the programme needs another young, glam woman to take her spot.”
They continued: “There is already an imbalance in the genders among the celebrities as there are nine men taking part and six women. It’s essential the number of females taking part doesn’t drop further, and they want to try and maintain a similar balance in terms of the variety of ages too.
“Tillie is incredibly ambitious and hard working and, even though she is just 22 years old, she’s already made great strides in the industry – but wants to go much, much further.
“If she does sign up for Strictly she will be using it very much as a platform for even bigger things and will definitely give it her all.”
The BBC told The Sun: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
Dani shared this statement with fans yesterday[/caption]
