Danny Dyer has publicly thrown his support behind daughter Dani after she was forced to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing before even hitting the dance floor.
Dani, 29, revealed on Tuesday that she fractured her ankle during rehearsal just days before the first live show.
“I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny,” she explained in a statement on Instagram. “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.”
In response to the post, the former Love Island star was inundated with a wave of support from the Strictly family.
Professionals Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez and Dianne Buswell joined judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas in wishing her a speedy recovery.
Her dad Danny, 47, left a single broken heart emoji beneath her Instagram post announcing her shock exit, a simple gesture that spoke volumes about the family’s disappointment.
Fellow contestant Vicky posted a heartfelt tribute, writing: “My girl... @danidyerxx I am absolutely gutted for you!! I have loved every minute of our little @bbcstrictly journey together and I'm devastated this is the end..
“But I know you'll be back next year with your incredible energy, amazing dance skills and beautiful soul... AND YOU'LL SMASH IT!!! I'm already peanut butter and jealous of whatever lucky sod gets to be your dressing room buddy... because you're the best roomie ever.
“Love you mate and wishing you a speedy recovery... this series won't be the same without you...”
The 28-year-old was among the 15 celebrities unveiled during the launch show last Saturday, where it was announced she would be paired with fan-favourite professional Nikita Kuzmin.
Viewers saw the duo take to the dancefloor for the first time in the traditional group number, with excitement building for their debut routine this coming weekend.
However, on Tuesday the star confirmed she has been left unable to continue in the competition after injuring herself in training last week.
Strictly’s executive producer Sarah James paid tribute to Dyer, praising the energy she had brought to rehearsals. She said: “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.”
Dyer’s exit comes as a huge blow to the BBC One series, which only launched this past weekend. It remains to be seen whether a replacement celebrity will be drafted in, or if the competition will continue with 14 contestants.
