Dani Dyer has been confirmed as the second celebrity taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2026, marking her return to the BBC competition after an injury forced her to pull out of last year’s series.
The announcement was made on Thursday morning via the show’s official social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
The Love Island champion had originally been cast for the 2025 edition but was compelled to withdraw before the contest even got underway due to injury, meaning she never had the chance to perform for viewers.
She will now get another opportunity to compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy when the programme returns to BBC One and iPlayer this autumn.
Expressing her enthusiasm about the comeback, Ms 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 official BBC Strictly Instagram account welcomed her back with the message: “She’s back where she belongs on the #strictly dance floor.”
The 28-year-old, who hails from Canning Town, has enjoyed a busy year in television, claiming victory on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and appearing alongside her father Danny Dyer in their programme The Dyers Caravan Park.
Dani Dyer with her father, actor Danny Dyer
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Her television credits also include the documentaries Is This Anxiety? and Greggs v McDonalds, plus guest spots on Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Gogglebox and EastEnders.
Ms Dyer rose to fame after triumphing on Love Island in 2018 and has since built a substantial following of 3.7 million across her social media platforms.
Beyond her broadcasting work, she has established herself as a successful author, with her debut publication What Would Dani Do? reaching number four on the Sunday Times Bestsellers list.
She tied the knot with West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen in May 2025.
Dani Dyer said she is ‘so excited’ to be back on BBC Strictly
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EastEnders star Lacey Turner was unveiled as the first celebrity contestant for the upcoming series, with the 38-year-old actress expressing her delight at swapping Albert Square for the ballroom.
Ms Turner, who has played Stacey Slater since 2004, said: “I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!
“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!”
Ms Dyer rose to fame after triumphing on Love Island in 2018
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This series marks a fresh era for the programme following the departure of long-standing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have been appointed as the new presenting team, with further contestant announcements expected throughout the summer.
Responding to both announcements so far, fans have noted how the official confirmations seem to be coming far earlier in the year than usual.
In other years, the official line-up starts to be revealed in August rather than early June.
