Strictly Come Dancing's Dani Dyer quits: The BBC show's most tragic and unexpected exits

Natasha Rigler | 11:51am Wed 24 Sep | Updated 11:51am Wed 24 Sep

Strictly Come Dancing’s Dani Dyer is the latest in a line of celebrities who have quit the show. 

During its 21-year reign on the BBC, it has been hit with multiple tragic and unexpected exits.

Hundreds of celebrity contestants and their professional partners have come and gone in a flurry of sparkles, sequins and smiles – even when they’ve been given the boot in the dance-off.

But not all of Strictly’s exits have gone this way. Some have come far sooner than expected and ended in sadness and tears as a result. Here, TVGuide takes a look back at some of Strictly Come Dancing‘s most sudden and unexpected departures from the BBC ballroom.

Strictly Come Dancing 2007
Kelly Brook bowed out of Strictly for a heartbreaking reason [Credit: Cover Images]

Kelly Brook: Tragic Strictly Come Dancing exit

Kelly Brook’s Strictly Come Dancing exit was a heartbreaking one in 2007. The star was partnered with Brendan Cole on the BBC show and, by week three, they had already scored 35 out of 40. Soon, they were being tipped to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

But in week nine, tragedy struck. Kelly, 45, withdrew from the competition after her father, Kenneth, died. Kenneth’s death came following a long battle with lung cancer.

Initially, Kelly had intended to continue and dance that Saturday night in tribute to her dad. However, the BBC later said she found it “too difficult” and was leaving the show early.

A statement read: “Kelly has done some training as she had hoped to continue with the show in his memory. However, understandably she has found it too difficult.”

Kelly broke down in tears in February this year when recalling Kenneth’s death and her struggle with grief. She told her Loose Women panellists: “I struggled. And that manifested into different relationships and work.

“Anything that could distract me. The grief didn’t hit me until five years later. It was a decade of all of it.”

Loose Women, ITV

Jimmy Tarbuck needed major surgery after leaving Strictly Come Dancing [Credit: YouTube. ITV]

Jimmy Tarbuck: Medical woes

Strictly Come Dancing was the perfect show for Jimmy Tarbuck. Weekend entertainment programmes came naturally to him, having previously hosted Sunday Night at the London Palladium and a string of game shows.

But unfortunately, his time on Strictly didn’t go according to plan.

Jimmy, 85, took part in series four of the show, which aired in 2006, and he was partnered with Flavia Cacace. They performed in Week 1 and were a no show in Week 2.

It transpired Jimmy had been suffering from dizzy spells during rehearsals and doctors had told him not to perform. Jimmy then quit the competition on further medical advice.

He said at the time: “I would like to thank my wonderful partner Flavia who has taught me so much and been patient in trying to turn this old cart-horse into a proper dancer. I will really miss training with her.”

In a tribute to former Strictly host Sir Bruce Forsyth following his death in 2017, Jimmy said: “Strictly Come Dancing though gave Bruce a new lease of life – although it nearly killed me when I went on it.

“He warned me it was gruelling. I ended up in hospital having stents put in my heart. We laughed about that, too.”

Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two

Paralympian Will Bayley’s Strictly experience had lasting consequences [Credit: YouTube/ BBC]

Will Bayley: Long-lasting consequences

Paralympian Will Bayley competed in the 2019 series of Strictly with professional dancer Janette Manrara. Will was born with the joint condition arthrogryposis, which causes severe arthritis, and had cancer as a child.

In Week 6, disaster struck. Will suffered a knee injury in rehearsals and wasn’t able to perform in that weekend’s Halloween Special. According to The BBC, he landed awkwardly after jumping from a raised platform.

Will and Janette were given a pass to week seven but they never made it. The BBC confirmed Will had been force to withdraw completely. He later underwent surgery for a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and could not walk for six months.

Speaking on ITV‘s This Morning last year, 37-year-old Will called for the BBC to provide expert help to professional dancers who are paired with a disabled partner.

He said: “There’s a lot of things to learn from my injury and jumping off a table. There has to be someone to help people with disabilities with those dances.

“It’s a massive burden for [a Strictly pro] to take on someone with a disability. I think there should be some kind of expert to look out for them.”

Will added: “It was traumatic for me, it was really hard. I’ve been through a lot worse but it was still very challenging. Not being able to walk for six months and having that recovery time was mentally hard.”

Strictly It Takes Two 2023

AJ Odudu was forced to exit Strictly just days before the final [Credit: YouTube/ BBC]

AJ Odudu – Devastating final exit

TV star AJ Odudu wowed her way to the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021. Partnered with Kai Widdrington, they topped the leaderboard multiple times. AJ and Kai even scored a perfect 40 for their Quickstep.

But with just days to go, devastated AJ tore a ligament in her right ankle. Initially, AJ had hoped she would be able to compete in the final despite starting the last week on crutches. She eventually had to admit defeat and pull out.

At the time, AJ told fans on X: “I’ve done all I can possibly do to get back on my feet for the @BBCStrictly final. I even asked the docs if I could perform in a medical moonboot!

“But the fact is, I can’t stand on my feet let alone dance because I’ve torn my spring ligament.”

EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice ended up lifting the Glitterball Trophy. AJ was also unable to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour.

Two years later, AJ, 37, admitted in an interview: “I danced so hard, I danced my ligament off.  Thank God I can laugh about it now. At the time I was crying on live TV for months every time someone mentioned it.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2008
John Sargeant withdrew from Strictly in an unexpected exit [Credit: YouTube/ BBC]

John Sergeant – Voluntary withdrawal

Veteran broadcaster John Sergeant found himself at the centre of a massive storm when he competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.

He received repeated criticism from the judges for his clumsy footwork with pro Kristina Rihanoff, but huge public support meant he sailed through the BBC show each week. Being at the bottom of the leaderboard made no difference.

Arlene Phillips, who was on the judging panel at the time, appeared particularly bothered by John’s presence on the show. She branded him “lazy” and said she would be “devastated” if he won.

In one blistering take down, Arlene even called the political journalist a “dancing pig in Cuban heels”.

By week nine, 81-year-old John decided enough was enough and voluntarily quit. He said: “I am sorry to say I have decided to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

“It was always my intention to have fun on the show and I was hoping to stay in as long as possible. The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me that would be a joke too far.”

Strictly It Takes Two
Jamie Laing was the fasted exit in Strictly Come Dancing history [Credit: YouTube/ BBC]

Jamie Laing – Fastest Strictly exit

Talk about a false start. Unfortunately for Jamie Laing, he experienced such an early exit that he didn’t even make it to the Strictly live shows.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 36, signed up to the BBC competition in 2019 but hurt his foot while shooting the pre-recorded Strictly launch show. He landed badly during a group routine with that year’s 15 celebrity contestants.

It became the quickest exit in Strictly’s history.

Jamie was given crutches and a boot and diagnosed with a damaged tendon. Strictly host Tess Daly revealed: “He was so upset, he was in tears on the night. He was just devastated.

“And he was just in so much pain and he was worried he’d spelled the end of his dancing career before it had even started.”

Luckily, Jamie did not suffer any lasting damage and was able to compete in the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly It Takes Two 2020

Boxer Nicola Adams was delivered a punch during her Strictly experience [Credit: YouTube/ BBC]

Nicola Adams – Covid crisis

Olympic boxer Nicola Adams made history in 2020 when she became the first celebrity to dance in a same-sex partnership.

Nicola was paired with Katya Jones on the BBC show but it was far from plain sailing. Strict rules were in place due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Safety protocols saw each couple in a ‘bubble’, meaning they had to stay away from the other competitors. The group dances were all filmed in a ‘bubble’ before the series got underway. The rules even meant married Strictly pros Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec were not allowed to touch each other.

But despite the strict measures, Katya tested positive for Covid in Week 4, despite not showing any symptoms. The rules meant both she and Nicola had to exit Strictly and self-isolate for 14 days.

Nicola said at the time: “I’m gutted to be out of the competition but in these unprecedented times, and as frustrating as it is, the Covid measures in place are to keep everyone safe, and I’m doing what I can to help.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2023
Amanda Abbington’s Strictly exit resulted in a BBC investigation [Credit: YouTube/ BBC]

Amanda Abbington – Shock claims

The Strictly Come Dancing exit of Amanda Abbington was Strictly’s most unexpected of them all. Amanda took part in the 2023 series of Strictly and was partnered with Giovanni Pernice.

In week five of the competition, the Sherlock actress suddenly pulled out of the BBC show citing “personal reasons”. She said: “It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.”

In the weeks that followed, Amanda made allegations that Giovanni had been “threatening and abusive” during rehearsals. Giovanni strongly denied all of Amanda’s claims and the BBC launched an investigation.

The following summer, Amanda, 51, gave an interview to a tabloid newspaper and to Channel 4 News. She alleged to C4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy that the rehearsal room with Giovanni had been “toxic”.

In response to Amanda’s interviews, Giovanni’s rep said: “Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.”

The BBC’s investigation concluded in September 2024. The BBC upheld complaints of verbal bullying and harassment, but allegations of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not. Giovanni officially left Strictly in June 2024.

Dani Dyer – Broken ankle

Dani Dyer was supposed to be competing in Strictly Come Dancing 2025. But with just days to go before this weekend’s first live show, Dani has quit.

The reality star, 29, fell on her ankle during rehearsals. An MRI scan has since confirmed Dani has fractured it. This means she is no longer able to compete in the 2025 series.

Dani, who found fame on ITV2’s Love Island in 2018, says she is “heartbroken” about her withdrawal. She said: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.

“Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable(!!) and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so l’ve had to pull out of the show.

“To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2025: All the professional dancers confirmed to be returning

Strictly Come Dancing is next on at 6.55pm, BBC One and BBC iPlayer, on Saturday September 27, 2025.