In a candid confession that’s left fans reaching for the tissues, Dani Dyer has finally spilled the raw truth about the “unluckiest” injury that shattered her Strictly Come Dancing dreams – admitting the cruel irony of powering through the punishing Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins unscathed, only to be sidelined by a simple rehearsal mishap before the sequins even hit the ballroom.

The 29-year-old Love Island winner, now happily married to West Ham star Jarrod Bowen and mum to three adorable little ones, opened up in an exclusive interview just days after the glittering 2025 series wrapped with Karen Carney and Carlos Gu lifting the Glitterball Trophy.

“It is, honestly, it was just really bad luck, I think,” Dani confessed, her voice cracking with emotion. “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.”

The mum-of-three – who shares son Santiago, four, with ex Sammy Kimmence, and twin daughters Summer and Star, two, with footballer hubby Jarrod – was tipped as a frontrunner when paired with fan-favourite pro Nikita Kuzmin for the 2025 series.

But disaster struck during rehearsals just days after the pre-recorded launch show. Dani “landed funny” in a fall, fracturing her ankle and tearing ligaments in what she described as a “freak accident”.

“To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement,” she tearfully told fans at the time, posting a gut-wrenching video from her sofa as she took time off social media to process the devastation.

Doctors delivered the crushing blow: no dancing. Strictly bosses had no choice but to withdraw her, replacing her with fellow Love Island alum Amber Davies – who went on to dazzle as a runner-up alongside Nikita.

The irony? Dani had just wrapped filming the gruelling new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, facing scorching heat in northern Africa, brutal military challenges, and even a nosebleed-inducing punch in the “Milling” fight task against Married At First Sight Australia’s Jessika Power.

She emerged tougher than ever, proving she “has big balls” as she proudly declared – yet it was the gentle world of ballroom that brought her down.

Even Strictly choreographer Jason Gilchrist was baffled, telling Dani: “I do not know how you managed to get injured on Strictly!”

Fans were left in floods of tears back in September, flooding her Instagram with messages of support as dad Danny Dyer posted a simple broken heart emoji.

Co-stars rallied round: Dianne Buswell wrote, “I’m so sorry Dani and Nikita. We will miss you so much xx,” while Johannes Radebe added, “Gutted for you both, take care of yourself.”

Nikita was speechless for minutes when Dani broke the news, later sharing a heartfelt tribute that had her “crying again”.

The injury hit hard mentally too. Dani admitted she barely left her bedroom for days, feeling “embarrassed” and “mentally tested”. “Everyone around me was pure devastation,” she revealed on her podcast with dad Danny. “I couldn’t leave the house because if someone asked ‘Are you okay?’ I’d just cry.”

She even begged doctors for a second opinion, desperate to stay – but the pain was too much. “Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable,” she laughed through tears.

Husband Jarrod, no stranger to foot injuries from the pitch, became her rock – sending her for scans and ensuring proper healing.

Recovery has been slow: “My foot still isn’t 100 per cent, but it’s a lot better,” Dani shared recently. “Before, I couldn’t even touch it without feeling sick – now it moves a lot. It’s just about strengthening it.”

But there’s hope glittering on the horizon. Dani’s thrown her hat in the ring for a 2026 return: “It’s up to Strictly because I would absolutely love to do it again. I didn’t even really get to start my journey, so I think what’s meant to be will be.”

Bosses have left the door open, with executive producer Sarah James praising Dani’s “passion, joy and enthusiasm” and hoping to “welcome her back to the ballroom in the future”.

Strictly fans are already campaigning: “Bring Dani back in 2026! She deserves her chance 😭,” one pleaded. Another added: “The irony of SAS survivor injured on Strictly – just her luck! But she’d smash it next year!”

Dani’s no stranger to bouncing back. From her 2018 Love Island win with Jack Fincham (they split months later), to early reality exits like Survival Of The Fittest (shoulder injury day one), she’s built a thriving career – podcasts, fashion lines, and now tough TV like SAS.

The new series, airing January 4 on Channel 4, promises to show a “different side” of Dani – resilient, fearless, and unbreakable.

As she gears up for more family chaos with Jarrod and the kids, plus projects like Danny Dyer’s Caravan Park, Dani’s philosophy shines: “2024 survival mode… 2025 rise, rebuild, thrive.”

From heartbreak to hope – if anyone can cha-cha back stronger, it’s Dani.

Strictly bosses, the ballroom awaits her return. And fans? We’re ready with the votes.