Overview

• Speaking on her Live and Let Dyers podcast, Dyer recounted an MRI showing a hairline fracture and ligament damage and said Strictly welfare phoned to confirm she could not compete.
• Dyer said the setback has tested her mental health, describing days spent indoors, an emergency call to her therapist, and blunt support from her father, Danny Dyer.
• She said partner Nikita Kuzmin was silent for two minutes on hearing the news and was in complete shock, with both describing the outcome as devastating.
• Amber Davies was drafted in at short notice to partner Kuzmin and scored 27 for a week-one waltz, as producer Sarah James wished Dyer a swift recovery and signalled hopes to welcome her back.
• Viewer criticism over Davies’ theatre background has grown, and Davies has countered that she is a beginner in ballroom and Latin, while reports claim bosses previously hesitated over her past training.