Dani Dyer has shared an update about her Strictly journey, just weeks before the BBC dancing competition gets under way again. The broadcaster has now announced the full list of celebrity contestants that will be taking to the dancefloor, with TV personality Dani Dyer one of them.
Others stars that Dani will be competing against include award-winning actor Alex Kingston, former professional footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and reality TV star Vicky Pattinson.
On Instagram yesterday, September 8, the daughter of Danny Dyer revealed that Strictly rehearsals have now started. She shared a mirror selfie and wrote “Strictly rehearsals begin”, alongside a dancing emoji.
After this post, she shared a glimpse of the Strictly studio lit up in its famous purple colours and said “what a day”, after a day of practice and rehearsal.
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 will be aiming to lift the Glitter Ball Trophy this year with her professional dance partner, who has not yet been announced. 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.
As the news was announced, 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.”