Dani Dyer ‘over the moon’ to be returning to Strictly Come Dancing

By Lauren Del Fabbro, Press Association Entertainment Reporter

Former Love Island star Dani Dyer has said she is “over the moon” to return to Strictly Come Dancing as a contestant.

Dyer, 29, will join the hit BBC dancing programme this autumn after she had to withdraw from last year’s competition because of an injury before the series began.

The TV star is known for appearing on and winning the ITV reality dating show in 2018, for winning this year’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and co-starring alongside her father, Rivals actor Danny Dyer, on their series The Dyers’ Caravan Park.

She joins EastEnders’ star Lacey Turner, who was the first contestant announced as part of the 2026 star-studded lineup.

Dyer said: “I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September.

“I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one.

“I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it.”

The news was announced on Thursday on the BBC Strictly Come Dancing official social media accounts.

Dyer is also known for guest appearances on Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Gogglebox and EastEnders.

She married West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen in May last year.

The news comes weeks after broadcaster Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe were announced as the new hosts for the upcoming series.

They will preside over the ballroom and replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after they announced they were leaving the show late last year.

The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will return to screens this September and be available to stream on BBC One and iPlayer.