Overview

• Dyer said she fell in Friday rehearsals, the swelling worsened over the weekend, and a Monday MRI confirmed a fractured ankle that doctors advised made dancing a quickstep unsafe.
• She announced her withdrawal on Tuesday after being paired with Nikita Kuzmin in the pre-recorded launch and said she is heartbroken and taking a short break from social media.
• BBC Studios executive producer Sarah James called the situation incredibly sad and said the team hopes to welcome Dyer back to the ballroom in a future series.
• The BBC has not confirmed whether a new celebrity will join the cast, and reports linking Waterloo Road’s Tillie Amartey remain unconfirmed as the broadcaster declines comment.
• Kuzmin said he was “so gutted” their journey ended early, colleagues and judges sent support, and the exit—following Kristian Nairn’s earlier medical withdrawal—has already prompted betting-market adjustments.