Many were taken off guard when Strictly Come Dancing started its celebrity announcements early, with the first star in the line-up, Lacey Turner, being confirmed on 10 June.
The BBC has now announced that Dani Dyer would be returning to the show following her previous departure due to an injury while training for her quickstep with Nikita Kuzmin.
Speaking about returning to the show, Dani 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!”
They join EastEnders star Lacey, who was over the moon to join the iconic BBC show. “I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!” she said in a statement.
“I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”
Fans were quick to react, as one pleaded: “I know you won’t but please partner her back up with Nikita. We need them back together,” while a second commented: “Happy she gets another chance,” and a third posted: “She deserves this.”
Changes to Strictly
Strictly is set to be incredibly different when it returns in September. Although fans are used to seeing a whole new crop of celebrities and pro dancers, this year, they’re also faced with brand-new hosts after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed following last year’s final.
Back in May, the BBC announced that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe would be serving as their replacements. The news was confirmed on Strictly’s Instagram with a video featuring Emma being joined by Johannes, with Josh joining the pair afterwards. The account teased: “It’s official…September 2026.”
Just days before Lacey’s confirmation as the first Strictly star, it was confirmed that Janette Manrara would be leaving the show after 14 years as a dancer and presenter of sister show, It Takes Two.
“Strictly Come Dancing has changed hugely and I am no longer a part of It Takes Two or the main show,” Janette told fans in a YouTube video on 3 June. The professional dancer said she would “still be involved in other ways” but clarified “that just means that I’m free to pursue and do many other projects that I’ve always wanted to do and never really thought about doing.”
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