Dani Dyer is trading nursery runs for the Strictly dance floor as she prepares to take part in the show. The former Love Island winner, 29, says she’s “so excited” and still can’t believe it’s real. She calls it an honour to be on a show she’s watched for years.
Dani will compete alongside celebrities like Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Gladiators’ Nitro, EastEnders’ Balvinder Sopal, and Drag Race UK’s La Voix.
The mum-of-three admits she’s already reached out to some former Strictly contestants for dance tips. Dani says Dan Walker messaged her, encouraging her to enjoy the experience.
She plans to DM a few more for advice but emphasizes that having fun is her main goal, not how far she progresses.
Dani is confident she’ll have plenty of support on her Strictly journey, not only from her actor dad Danny but also from her husband Jarrod Bowen and their children.
She has a four-year-old son, Santiago, with her ex Sammy Kimmence, and twins Summer and Star, aged two, with Jarrod. Dani knows her whole family will be cheering her on.
Dani recalls watching Strictly last year when Jarrod’s mum, a huge fan of the show, told her, “I want that to be you.” She feels that support helped make it happen. It’s been a big year for Dani, who married Jarrod in a beautiful Buckinghamshire wedding in May.
She describes the day as one of the best of her life and is excited for anyone planning to get married, calling it truly special.
Dani says the wedding felt like it went by quickly, with a big build-up including hen and stag parties. After the big day, she experienced the post-wedding blues and reassured a friend going through the same.
Despite being married, Dani feels day-to-day life with Jarrod hasn’t changed much, joking that the only difference is he now wears a ring, which she thinks is nice.
There wasn’t a dry eye when Dani walked down the aisle, and even her dad, former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, struggled to hold back tears. He got emotional seeing Jarrod cry, which is rare for him, and later told Dani he cried all the way to work the next day.
Dani shares a close bond with her dad they host a podcast together, Live And Let Dyers, and have appeared on shows like Celebrity Gogglebox and their own reality series Absolutely Dyer: Danny And Dani Do Italy. Dani jokes that Danny is like the “naughty child” and she helps keep him in check.
While Dani prepares for Strictly, Danny is riding high too, having won a TV Bafta for his role in Mr Bigstuff. Dani says, “No one deserves it more,” and recalls a funny moment when her son Santiago asked why Grandad was on a poster at the train station.
Though Dani and her dad are often on TV, she says her kids don’t really get their fame yet. But her son Santiago is definitely impressed by his footballer stepdad, Jarrod.
“Santi loves watching Jarrod play,” Dani says. “He only wants to wear football kits with the number 20, Jarrod’s number. If we walk past a number 20, he says, ‘That’s my number.’”
Life as a mum-of-three is “non-stop,” and as Dani gets ready to hit the Strictly dance floor, she’s feeling all the emotions with Santi starting school and the twins heading to nursery.
Dani says they’re hitting new milestones: “Santi starting school was huge for me — little boys and their mums, it’s a big moment. It’s exciting for him though. And the twins started nursery too; they just waddled in without looking back, totally fine.”
Though it’s tough for Dani, she’s looking forward to some ‘me-time’ as her dance rehearsals ramp up. “With Santi and then the twins, I barely had a moment to breathe. The first year is the hardest, but you find your pink again.”
She laughs remembering how easy it was when it was just Santi. While she loves motherhood, Dani admits having twins is no joke: “They’re magical and gorgeous, but definitely a handful. Now that they’re older, their personalities really start to shine.”
Dani says she didn’t realize how different her twins’ personalities would be—they’re completely opposite, making life a real roller-coaster.
Despite her busy life, Dani has recently launched a fashion collection with Peacocks. She loves how affordable and stylish their clothes are, especially their comfortable jeans, which fit her well at 5ft 2in.
On her new collection, Dani says she’s enjoyed experimenting more with styles and colors, stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing bold, vibrant looks.
“We’re bringing out a pinstripe co-ord and it’s really lovely, because you can wear it with trainers, heels or boots. With fashion, you’ve just got to try out new things.”
After her experiences of being ‘ Strictly -fied’, we predict Dani’s next collection might feature the odd sequin or two!
The Dani Dyer Peacocks collection can be found in stores and online at peacocks.co.uk