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Waterloo Road star Tillie Amartey has ruled out claims she is in talks to replace Dani Dyer in the Strictly Come Dancing lineup, after she was forced to pull out of the show due to injury.
It was reported that the actress, 22, who recently quit her role on the hit drama, had begun negotiations as a late addition to the lineup, after the Love Island star fractured her ankle in training.
However, a source has told Daily Mail that no decision have been made about whether Dani will be replaced.
An insider said: ‘Tillie hasn’t had any contact with Strictly Come Dancing.
‘Bosses still don’t know if they are replacing Dani yet.’
Tillie, who has played Stacey Neville on the BBC school drama since 2024, took part in Strictly’s Christmas special in 2023.
Waterloo Road star Tillie Amartey has ruled out claims she is in talks to replace Dani Dyer in the Strictly Come Dancing lineup, after she was forced to pull out of the show due to injury
It was announced on Tuesday that the Love Island star had pulled out of the show after fracturing her ankle during training
At the time, she said: ‘ I am feeling really overwhelmed, but so privileged to be part of such an amazing show.
‘You can’t say no to Strictly. I want to prove to myself and other younger people, that you can do anything you put your mind too. Yes I’m an actress and a presenter, but why can’t I dance as well?!’
Tillie was partnered with Neil Jones but lost out to Jamie Borthwick and Nancy Xu in the festive show.
Bosses had hoped that Dani, who partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, would go far in the competition, but it was announced on Tuesday that she’s been forced to withdraw after fracturing her ankle in training.
In a statement, BBC bosses confirmed that the door would be left open for ‘heartbroken’ Dani to return next year, saying they ‘hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future.’
Dani is also the second star to pull out of this year’s series before the first live show has even aired, as Game Of Thrones star Kristian Nairn withdrew from the lineup due to ‘unexpected medical reasons.’
The Daily Mail broke the news that Dani, one of the show’s favourites, had to bow out on Tuesday, after fracturing her ankle during a training rehearsal on Friday.
Dani later confirmed this in a statement and 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 yesterday, 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.’
The accident occurred before Dani even got to perform one routine.
Sarah James, Executive Producer for BBC Studios said: ‘Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to the most sensational start.
‘Everyone on the show is incredibly sad that she’s no longer able to compete in this year’s series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery, and we very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future.’
It’s not been confirmed whether Dani will be replaced by another star in the Strictly lineup, though she is far from the first star who has been forced to pull out of the show due to an injury.