The new Strictly Come Dancing contestants are gearing up to take to the dance floor next month with a professional dancing partner. This year, the series will launch on September 20, with the BBC dance competition’s usual pre-recorded launch programme.
During the opening show, celebrities and their dance partner will be showing off their moves in a group dance ahead of their first official routine. Saturday live shows will kick off a week later and the first Sunday results programme will air on Sunday, October 5.
As excitement for the latest edition of the dance show builds, the contestants are also feeling the joy. Dani Dyer will be aiming to lift the Glitter Ball Trophy this year and her Strictly journey got underway yesterday.
On Instagram, the TV personality shared a picture from her Strictly dressing room and wrote: “And the Strictly journey begins, ahhhh I’m so excited”, alongside emotional and love heart emojis.
Dani also uploaded photo of her name in front of the Strictly Come Dancing logo, before she entered her dressing room. Dani is just one of many exciting new names announced for the famous BBC dance competition.
On joining the Strictly line-up, Dani told the BBC: “Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year! I feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on.”
The news of her participation was announced on The One Show on Monday, August 11. She was the second celebrity to be announced, after Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
Dani won Love Island in 2018 and has since amassed over three million social media followers. She is also a published author with her debut book What Would Dani Do? reaching the Sunday Times Bestsellers list. She married West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen in May this year.
On Instagram, Strictly stars shared their excitement to meet Dani when it was announced she would be taking to the dance floor. Dianne Buswell, last year’s Strictly winner, wrote: “Yay so excited to meet you.”
Strictly judge and professional dancer Oti Mabuse commented “Welcome to the Strictly family, Dani. Wishing you the most magical, sparkly journey.”
Professional dancer Gorka Marquez commented: “Welcome to @BBCStrictly” and judge Shirley Ballas responded “welcome to the family Dani”.
West Ham player Jarrod Bowen told the Ironcast podcast that he was under strict instructions not to tell anyone about his wife’s involvement with Strictly this year.
He said: “It was in the pipeline a couple of months ago. The rumours then start coming out and I was under strict instructions – don’t tell anyone. People were asking me and I had to say I don’t know. I’m a bad liar!
“I’m sure my weekends after a game will be to go over and watch her. She’s already had her first day not long ago and asked if we could do the dances together. But these hips aren’t like those professionals. I said she can have her dance and I’ll just come and watch.”