Dani Dyer is taking no chances as she prepares for her Strictly Come Dancing comeback after an injury forced her to withdraw last year.
The former Love Island winner was forced to pull out after fracturing her ankle, but she’s determined not to let history repeat itself.
The returning contestant discussed her new rehearsal routine on Monday’s BBC Morning Live.
She has reunited with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin after an injury ended their 2025 partnership before the competition even began. But this time, the pair are taking extra precautions…
Dani Dyer reveals protection plan for Strictly this year
Nikita revealed that strapping has become a major part of their preparations.
He explained: “Oh, we are doing a lot of strapping. We are strapping everything. Absolutely everything.”
Dani also has tape available throughout rehearsals for extra support. The protective routine includes tape, an ankle brace, a shoe and targeted exercises.
Nikita added: “We have a tape, then we have an ankle brace, then we have a shoe, we do exercises. We are going full out.”
And the precautions aren’t just being used during rehearsals. Dani even taped her feet before putting on heels for a wedding on Saturday.
She admitted: “Yeah, because I had to wear heels and I was like, I’m taping my feet. So, yeah, a little bit over-the-top. But it’s special measures.”
Dani Dyer sets one clear Strictly goal
For Dani, the main goal is simply to “get to week one this time”.
Last week, she and Nikita made it through the rehearsal day when Dani suffered her injury last year.
She said: “So, yeah, I just want to have the best time ever because, like I said before, I was so upset. So, just to be back, I just want to enjoy the experience.”
Her return gives the original partnership another chance after such an abrupt ending, and fans are thrilled to see Dani and Nikita reunited on the dance floor.
Dani Dyer’s 2025 ankle injury explained
The fractured ankle which ended Dani’s original Strictly run happened during rehearsals ahead of the 2025 series.
Dani thought she had simply rolled her foot at first. However, severe swelling led to an MRI scan, which confirmed that she had fractured her ankle.
Continuing with the quickstep was then ruled out, forcing Dani to withdraw from the competition. She later admitted that leaving was difficult because she had been having such a good time.
She struggled to leave home and said the experience had tested her mental health. Against that backdrop, reaching this year’s first rehearsal milestone carries even more significance.
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