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CultureQuiet 4d · day 5

Dani Dyer returns to Strictly, reunited with Nikita Kuzmin after ankle injury

Love Island winner makes comeback after fracturing ankle forced her out last year; new hosts debut on launch show.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 3d ago6 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Dani Dyer, who withdrew from last year's Strictly after fracturing her ankle, has been reunited with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin for the 2026 series.
  • Both Dyer and Kuzmin expressed emotional reactions to the pairing, with Dyer describing her devastation at having to leave last year and Kuzmin revealing he would have been jealous if she had been with another partner.
  • The 2026 launch show debuted three new hosts—Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe—and changed the format so contestants meet their partners for the first time on the dancefloor.
  • The series features 15 celebrities and includes the third all-female pairing in Strictly's history: Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu.

“I locked myself in my room, and my mum was like knocking on my door, and she was like, 'that's enough now, you've got to get out of bed'.”

Dani Dyer, Strictly contestant · Evening Standard ↗

Dani DyerDani Dyer Strictly contestantNikita Kuzmin Professional dancerEmma WillisEmma Willis Strictly host (new)Josh WiddicombeJosh Widdicombe Strictly host (new)Johannes RadebeJohannes Radebe Strictly host (new)

Dani Dyer returns to Strictly, reunited with Nikita Kuzmin after ankle injury
Evening Standard

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Sep 20, 5 AM; 6 pieces over 5 days (6 articles) Sep 19, 3 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 3Sep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quiet 1–23
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  1. 3

    Kuzmin reveals he would have been 'jealous' if Dyer had been paired with someone else

    Kuzmin disclosed that he was worried Dyer would be partnered with another dancer and admitted he would have felt jealous. Dyer confirmed she was surprised when the pairing was announced, saying she didn't expect they would be put back together.

    “Not gonna lie, I was worried if she went to somebody else, I was going to get jealous because she's my partner and if I see her with someone else, I'll be like, 'oh my goodness'.”
    — Nikita Kuzmin
    1. 2 outlets Dani Dyer reunites with Nikita Kuzmin as Strictly pairings for 2026 revealed

      first by Falmouth Packet, 4d ago · also Evening Standard

      1 more headline
  2. 2

    Kuzmin expresses emotion at reunion; Dyer describes devastation from last year

    Kuzmin said he had 'tears of joy' when the pairing was announced and expressed relief that Dyer would not be with another partner. Dyer revealed she locked herself in her room after having to leave last year and needed her mother to encourage her to get out of bed.

    “I had, like generally tears of joy when that happened, and just to hear everybody cheer, hear the audience sing.”
    — Nikita Kuzmin
  3. 1

    Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin reunited on Strictly 2026 launch show

    The 30-year-old Love Island winner was paired again with her professional partner from last year's series at the launch of the 2026 competition. The show featured new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, and contestants met their partners for the first time on the dancefloor.

    “Do you know what? It's amazing, last year I was devastated, I was heartbroken for days.”
    — Dani Dyer
    1. 2 outlets Dani Dyer says she was ‘heartbroken for days’ after leaving Strictly last year

      first by Renfrewshire Gazette, 4d ago · also Evening Standard

  4. background

    Dani Dyer forced to leave Strictly after ankle fracture — Dyer was partnered with Nikita Kuzmin in the previous series but had to withdraw due to fracturing her ankle during rehearsals.