Dani Dyer said her father, actor Danny Dyer, would never take part in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! because he would get "bored," and revealed he had turned down an invitation to appear on the BBC dance show she is joining.
Dyer, 29, who is due to appear on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, told the Daily Mail that her 48-year-old father was asked to take part in the BBC competition but declined. She said he told her: "Dan, I'd be bored. He'd be snoring everyone to death."
Dani Dyer said she would like to see her father in the I'm A Celebrity jungle but that he insisted he would not go. She added that when her Strictly participation was announced, some people on radio likely assumed it was the other Danny Dyer being discussed, a comment aimed at the confusion created by the shared name.
Speaking about her preparations for Strictly, Dyer said her husband, West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen, had been supportive and helped her practise. The couple married earlier this year and share twin daughters, Summer and Star, who are two, and Dyer is also mother to a four-year-old son, Santiago, from a previous relationship. She noted that the demands of Strictly training—long periods away from home—were a "once in a lifetime opportunity" she could not refuse and that her children, particularly her eldest, were enthusiastic about her taking part.
Dyer said her father planned to attend the first live show and would likely become emotional. "He's a proper girl dad," she told the Mail. "He's just so proud. He's like: 'Just go and enjoy it and smash it.' He really is. He's like: 'Absolutely. I will come whenever I can.'"
Dani Dyer has faced criticism since her participation was announced over past dance experience. She said any formal classes were from childhood, recalling a small East London class she attended as a young girl and saying she regretted stopping as her teenage years affected her confidence. "I loved it when I was a little girl," she said, adding that she now looks forward to rediscovering that love of dance.
Her comments about her father's likely refusal to enter the I'm A Celebrity jungle come amid a broader conversation about which celebrities choose to take part in reality and competition shows. Danny Dyer, known for his acting roles and public persona, has in recent years been linked to various television appearances, but Dani's remarks suggest he prefers projects that suit his temperament.
Strictly Come Dancing's new lineup, unveiled by the BBC, includes a wide-ranging group of public figures from sport, acting and entertainment. Among the contestants named alongside Dyer are Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, actresses Alex Kingston and Balvinder Sopal, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, rugby player Chris Robshaw, model and disability ambassador Ellie Goldstein, and reality stars including Vicky Pattison and Thomas Skinner. Several other familiar faces from television and sport were also listed as joining the series.
Dyer said she was "so excited" to be part of the show and described watching the professionals as further inspiration. She acknowledged the gruelling nature of the rehearsal schedule but framed the series as an opportunity to enjoy performing again. Her participation and her remarks about her father's television choices highlight the continuing crossover between reality TV personalities and established actors in British popular culture.
In addition to media attention around her Strictly appearance, Dyer's family background has attracted coverage. Her previous partner, Sammy Kimmence, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 2021 after being convicted of defrauding two pensioners of more than £34,000. Dyer has since married Bowen and maintained a public profile through social media and television work.
As Strictly moves into rehearsals and live shows, Dyer said she expected strong family support in the audience and at home, and that her father would be among those cheering her on despite his reluctance to take part in the harsher reality-show formats.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will air on the BBC later this year, with Dyer among the celebrity contestants seeking to win the glittering trophy after weeks of training and live public voting.