Former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer has expressed his heartbreak following the announcement that his daughter Dani must withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing due to injury.
The actor's response came shortly after Tuesday evening's announcement that Dani had sustained a fractured ankle during training, forcing her immediate withdrawal from the BBC competition before she could perform a single routine.
The Love Island winner suffered the injury during a training session on Friday when she fell and "landed funny", initially believing she had merely rolled her foot. The swelling worsened significantly over the weekend, prompting medical investigation.
An MRI scan on Monday revealed the severity of the damage - a fractured ankle that made continuing in the competition impossible. "Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so I've had to pull out of the show," Dani explained in her statement.
Danny Dyer (middle) has shared his heartbroken reaction to daughter Dani's (right) withdrawal
|PA
The timing proved particularly cruel, with the accident occurring before Dani could showcase any routines despite appearing in Saturday's pre-recorded launch show alongside professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, 27.
Dani's withdrawal prompted an outpouring of support from her Strictly colleagues across social media, including her father.
The 48-year-old responded to the devastating news by posting a broken heart emoji on Instagram beneath the official announcement.
Danny's wordless reaction appeared on multiple social media posts, including those on the official Strictly page and his daughter's own profile.
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin were paired up during the Strictly launch
|BBC
Fellow contestant Vicky Pattison, who had grown particularly close to Dani during their time together, wrote: "Absolutely devastated for you Dani. I'm going to miss you so much ... Love you loads."
Professional dancers rallied around their injured colleague and her partner, Mr Kuzmin. Michelle Tsiakkas offered: "I'm so sorry Dani and Nikita ... Wishing you a speedy recovery," whilst Karen Hauer added: "Oh darling nooo. So sorry ... wishing you a speedy recovery."
Johannes Radebe shared his disappointment, writing "Gutted for you both, take care of yourself," while Dianne Buswell expressed: "I'm so sorry Dani and Nikita. We will miss you so much."
The judging panel also offered their sympathies, with Shirley Ballas commenting: "I'm so so sorry. But health is most important. Get well soon Angel." (sic)
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The production faces its second major setback before the series properly commences, with Dani's departure following Kristian Nairn's withdrawal last month. The 49-year-old actor and DJ stepped back from the competition citing unexpected medical reasons.
"With a heavy heart, I have to step back from this season of Strictly Come Dancing due to unexpected medical reasons," Mr Nairn stated in his official announcement. He expressed deep disappointment at letting down viewers who anticipated his participation.
Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope subsequently replaced Mr Nairn in the lineup.
Dani's unfortunate history with reality television injuries extends beyond Strictly, having previously withdrawn from ITV2's Survival Of The Fittest in 2018.
A shoulder injury sustained during a pre-recorded physical challenge in South Africa resulted in her medical withdrawal before that programme's official launch.
Despite describing herself as "heartbroken" at leaving Strictly, BBC executives remain optimistic about her future involvement with the show.
Dani Dyer and Danny Dyer have appeared on several shows before
|BBC
Sarah James, executive producer at BBC Studios, stated: "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."
Dani confirmed she would continue supporting the remaining contestants, saying: "I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita, but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on."