Dani Dyer Supported by Father Danny at 'Strictly Come Dancing' Live Debut
The 'Love Island' star performed her first live dance after withdrawing last year due to injury.
Dani Dyer made her debut on the live stage of 'Strictly Come Dancing' on Saturday night, with her father, actor Danny Dyer, present to offer support. Dyer, who was expected to compete in the previous year but withdrew due to an injury, performed a Samba to Zara Larsson's "Lush Life" with her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin. The pair scored 22 points.
Following their performance, Dyer shared backstage photos on Instagram, captioning them "No words for last night!" One of the images featured her with her father, Danny, and Kuzmin. Danny Dyer was seen wearing sunglasses and an all-black outfit, appearing to enjoy the event. Another photo included Kuzmin's girlfriend, Lauren Jaine.
Dyer, 30, had been forced to pull out of the competition before the live shows last year due to an ankle injury. This year, she successfully took to the dance floor with Kuzmin, 28, marking her long-awaited first live performance on the show.
The evening also saw the introduction of a new presenting team, including Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis, and Johannes Radebe. Some viewers expressed mixed reactions to the new hosting arrangement, with comments on social media suggesting that three hosts might be unnecessary and that Widdicombe appeared to have a limited role.
Competitors performed a variety of dances, with scores contributing to the first week's leaderboard. Among the other contestants, Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu performed a Quickstep to Celeste's "Stop This Flame," earning 26 points. Dog trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley danced a Cha Cha to "Hound Dog" and received 24 points. Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr performed a Cha Cha to Paul Russell's "Lil Boo Thang," scoring 15 points.
Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, and Julian Caillon performed a Quickstep to Kay Starr's "C'est Magnifique," receiving a total of 15 points. Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, 34, and Jowita Przystał danced the Paso Doble to Harry Styles' "Aperture," earning 20 points. Big Brother presenter Will Best, 41, and Dianne Buswell performed a Samba to Robbie Williams' "Rock DJ," scoring 18 points.
Sports YouTuber John, 33, and his partner Katya Jones received high marks for their Foxtrot, reaching the top of the leaderboard. Australian singer Delta Goodrem, 41, and Kai Widdrington closed the show with a Samba, scoring 29 points. Actress Lacey Turner, 38, and Vito Coppola performed a Cha Cha to Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know," earning 27 points.
Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, 43, and Amy Dowden performed a Tango to Alice Merton's "No Roots," scoring 16 points. The oldest contestant, Melanie Walters, 64, and Aljaž Škorjanec danced the Cha Cha to Elton John and Kiki Dee's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," receiving 15 points. Love Island star Cach Mercer, 25, and Maddie Ingoldsby danced a Quickstep to Bruno Mars' "I Just Might," scoring 20 points. Actress Jaime Winstone, 41, and Carlos Gu performed a Tango to Donna Summer's "I Feel Love," earning 21 points.
No eliminations occurred in the first week. The scores from week one will be combined with the following week's results before the first contestant is eliminated next Sunday.