Dani Dyer credits Strictly partner Nikita for her new abs

Dyer returned to the 2025 competition after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals just days before the first live show and having to withdraw. She said she is now relishing the chance to dance again with Kuzmin, 28, describing the experience as more enjoyable than she had imagined. Her family, she said, have noticed how happy she is, and her husband, footballer Jarrod Bowen, enjoys watching her perform.

Dyer first became widely known after winning Love Island’s fourth series in 2018 with then-boyfriend Jack Fincham. She later had a son, Santiago, with former partner Sammy Kimmence, and in 2021 went through a difficult period when Kimmence was imprisoned for defrauding pensioners. Dyer met Bowen that year; they welcomed twin daughters, Star and Summer, in May 2023, became engaged 14 months later and married in May last year.

Alongside dancing, Dyer has worked as a presenter, including on True Love Or True Lies, the podcast Sorted With The Dyers with her father, Danny Dyer, and as a guest reporter on The One Show. She also won Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Despite being accustomed to appearing on screen, she said she still experiences anxiety before live performances. Breathing exercises with Kuzmin have helped, she said, and she hopes her experience encourages others to face their fears. Her father has urged her to enjoy the competition and reminded her that nerves and excitement can feel alike.