Strictly Come Dancing announces Dani Dyer will RETURN to compete in 2026 series one year after she was forced to quit due to an ankle injury
Dani Dyer is definitely making her comeback.
The telly star has been confirmed as the second celebrity to appear in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, a year after she was forced to abandon the 2025 run after breaking her ankle during rehearsals.
Dani said on Thursday: ‘I’m so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!’
‘I can’t wait to put my dancing shoes on again and hopefully this time I can actually make it to week one! I’m so excited and can’t wait to find out who else is doing this!’
Following his departure last year, BBC bosses confirmed the door would be left open for ‘heartbroken’ Dani to return to the 2026 series and said they ‘hope to welcome him back to the ballroom in the future’.
Dani becomes the second star to withdraw from last year’s series before the first live show has even aired, with Game Of Thrones star Kristian Nairn withdrawing from the cast due to ‘unexpected medical reasons’.
Dani Dyer, who had to leave the show last year due to an injury, is definitely making a comeback. TV star confirmed as second celebrity to appear in 2026 series
Dani was devastated to have to quit the job, saying at the time: ‘To say I’m heartbroken is the ultimate understatement… It seems it’s not advisable to rush into a fracture.’
He was paired with Nikita Kuzmin, one of the professional dancers confirmed to return to the show in 2026.
This year saw Dani win Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and star alongside her father in popular series The Dyers Caravan Park.
Dani won Love Island in 2018 and has since amassed 3.7 million social media followers. She married West Ham football player Jarrod Bowen in May last year.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Lacey Turner will be the first contestant of 2026.
The 38-year-old EastEnders star is currently taking an extended break from playing her iconic character Stacey Slater in the soap and wants to use her time to prepare for the BBC competition, which starts in September.
The news was officially announced on Instagram on Wednesday; This was an early date for the BBC show, but producers have teased more stars will be announced over the summer.
In a video shared on Instagram, Lacey admitted she was ‘terrified’ to be appearing on the BBC show, which returns to screens in September, and couldn’t wait to ‘learn a new skill’.
She said: ‘Hi I’m Lacey Turner I can’t really believe I’m saying this but I want to let you in on a little secret.
‘I’ll be dipping my little toes onto the dance floor to do Strictly Come Dancing this September.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that EastEnders star Lacey Turner will be the first contestant in 2026.
It will certainly undergo a major revamp ahead of its return in September, with Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as hosts.
‘I can’t believe it. I was so excited and terrified at the same time, but I had so many friends who did this and I figured it was time to get up the courage and get on that dance floor.
‘There, the secret is out, see you there in September.’
Lacey also shared an official statement with Strictly: ‘I’m so excited to hit the dance floor to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing this year!
‘I’m a huge fan and I can’t believe I won’t be watching at home this year! I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!’
In 2017, Lacey admitted she turned down an offer from Strictly and “didn’t have the guts” to do it.
The new series will return in September with a number of major changes as part of the revitalization of the competition.
Emma Willis, 50, Johannes Radebe, 39, and Josh Widdicombe, 43, will take over the dance show following the departure of presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The popular duo had been firmly on the move since 2014, and speculation was rife as to who would take on the coveted roles.
Janette Manrara has confirmed she is leaving Strictly Come Dancing and spin-off It Takes Two, revealing the BBC show has “changed dramatically”.
The TV star, who appeared as a professional dancer in the BBC series between 2013 and 2020, has been hosting the spin-off show It Takes Two with Fleur East since 2021.
Several well-known professional dancers were also laid off, including Luba Mushtuk, Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova and Michelle Tsiakkas.
