The former Love Island winner spoke to the People’s Channel all about her latest TV project

Dani Dyer has candidly and exclusively opened up about the painful injury that left her devastated to have to quit this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Initially paired up with finalist Nikita Kuzmin, Ms Dyer had to pull out of the show at the last minute to be replaced by Amber Davies after sustaining a fractured ankle.

At the time, Ms Dyer admitted she was “heartbroken” to withdraw following the fall in rehearsals, and was only able to lend her support to her co-stars from the sidelines.

However, prior to her Strictly withdrawal, Ms Dyer had just finished filming the upcoming series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins for Channel 4.

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins: Dani Dyer alongside the rest of the cast

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CHANNEL 4

Alongside 13 other famous faces, Ms Dyer jetted to northern Africa to be put through her paces in the scorching heat as she faced a series of physically demanding military-style challenges.

But did she see the irony in making it through SAS unscathed only to be forced out of a dance competition with injury? She explained all to GB News.

“It is, honestly, it was just really bad luck, I think,” Ms Dyer said.

“To be fair, I did speak to Jason (Gilchrist) [Strictly choreographer] when I got injured from Strictly, and he said, ‘I do not know how you managed to get injured on Strictly!’

Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin were paired up during the Strictly launch | BBC

“It’s just the irony. I just think it was just the most unluckiest incident, really.

“You know, people break their foot on a bl**dy pavement! It was just coming off a complete dodgy fall, and that’s the thing. That is just my luck.

“So yeah, it was such a shame, obviously, it was Strictly, and it was so exciting in the buildup for that as well.”

Ms Dyer’s replacement, Ms Davies, made it all the way to the finale of this year’s Strictly, narrowly missing out on the Glitterball Trophy to Karen Carney and her pro partner Carlos Gu.

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins: Dani Dyer has an emotional time on the show

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And while the likes of Craig Revel Horwood may prove stern critics of those on the dancefloor, it’s safe to say that for Ms Dyer, the Directing Staff (DS) proved a slightly more terrifying prospect.

“I’ve always been a fan of the show, and whenever I’ve watched it, I’ve always felt, ‘Can I do it?’” Ms Dyer said as she reflected on her Celebrity SAS stint.

“And I think when I was there, I was terrified. It’s just the whole thing. Like when you meet the DS… obviously, when you watch it, you know it’s going to be hard, but the whole time, like the DS – they are just petrifying.

“They are petrifying, aren’t they? Like, the moment you meet them, you’re like, ‘This has got real now. This has got completely, completely real.’

Dani Dyer is the eldest daughter of actor Danny Dyer

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“Just meeting them and the whole shouting thing,” she went on with a chuckle, although she did admit that personas soon changed once the cameras stopped rolling and the challenge was up.

Ms Dyer praised Jason Fox, Billy Billingham, and co: “They’re so great. They are so lovely.

“But it is just petrifying because you’re entering their world and they’re obviously giving you an instance of everything they’ve been through.”

Reflecting on how Celebrity SAS changed her as a person, Ms Dyer candidly admitted: “I think definitely I’m a lot stronger than what I thought I was.

“And definitely, (it taught me) to be a lot more patient. I feel like I’ve got a lot more belief since I’ve done that show, and it really did change completely the way I was thinking.

“And the DS knew me inside and out. They just know all of you so quickly, and they know your weaknesses, your strengths, and I think for me, I’ve really taken that into the real world of like what my weaknesses are, what my strengths are, and how to work on it.

“I mean, it was just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m just so glad I got to do it and so grateful because them opportunities don’t come around often,” she added to GB News.

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to stream, and watch live, on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm, from January 4 on Channel 4