Crocked Dani off Strictly

STRICTLY Come Dancing has suffered a blow before the contest even begins after “heartbroken” Dani Dyer fractured her ankle in rehearsals and was forced to pull out.

- By Frances Millar

The daughter of actor Danny was an early favourite to take the Glitterball, with bookies putting her second only to Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope.

But she was forced to quit after breaking her ankle in rehearsals with dance partner Nikita Kuzmin.

The competition proper begins this Saturday with the first live show — last week the celebrities met their partners.

Dani, 29, 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.

“After an MRI scan yesterday it turns out I have fractured my ankle.