Shirley Ballas has shared an update after Dani Dyer was forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing and teased whether there will be a replacement for the Love Island star

Head judge Shirley Ballas has admitted BBC bosses are scrambling at the 11th hour to solve the problem of Dani Dyer’s sudden drop out.

Shirley has shared an update after Dani Dyer was forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing The Love Island winner, 29, withdrew from the new series of the BBC programme days before the first live show has even launched after suffering a fractured ankle in rehearsals.

Now, head judge Shirley, 65, who is back on the panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse, has broken her silence on the whole thing as she revealed she had such high hopes for the TV star when it was revealed she had signed up.


Shirley admitted on Wednesday’s This Morning that she had such high hopes for the TV star when it was revealed she had signed up (
Image:
ITV)
During an appearance on Wednesday’s This Morning, she told hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard: “I know her work ethic and when she got onto Strictly I thought ‘They don’t know what’s hit them!’ This young lady is all sparkle, and of course, yesterday, she fell on her ankle, or twisted it, she has a hairline fracture, so she’s out.

“I spoke to her yesterday and she’s mortified and devastated but as I said to her, she could come back next year. You know like Jamie Laing did, and he made the final.”

But Shirley admitted that bosses are scrambling behind the scenes to figure out what to do next, as she hinted that it is likely that there will be no initial elimination.

She added: “I did speak to the executive producer [about a replacement] to try to get an answer for you and they’re hustling and bustling to see what they can do, we’re a dancer down. So, either, someone won’t go home the first week or something like that. But let’s hope that someone else will get the opportunity.”

Dani took to social media to share her devastation of the news in an emotional statement, and the news was met with sorrow from her fellow dancers on the hit BBC show.

Taking to Instagram, Dani, who shot to fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2018, said: “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.”


Love Island winner Dani had to pull out of this year’s competition before the live shows had even started (
Image:
CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Following the news, Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios added: “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.”

It’s not the first time Love Island star Dani had to drop out of a programme due to an injury. Back in 2018, she took part in ITV2’s Survival of the Fittest.

She had to quit before she could show off her survival skills, as she dislocated her shoulder while zooming headfirst down a waterslide while filming a challenge.

The reality star was treated by the medics on site and later taken to the hospital, a day after she entered the show’s lodge in the wilderness. Unfortunately, producers said she wasn’t able to finish the show due to the injury.