Dani Dyer is the comeback story of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The former Love Island winner, who withdrew injured last year, topped the Week 7 leaderboard on Saturday, 7 November, scoring 36 for a glitzy American Smooth with her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, and earning a 10 from judge Motsi Mabuse.
Dyer’s score was the highest of the night, ahead of Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita on 33 and Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington on 31. It was a remarkable turnaround for a dancer who had to pull out of last year’s series through injury, and who returned this year determined to finish what she started.
A comeback a year in the making
Dyer withdrew injured last year, a disappointment that left her with unfinished business on the Strictly dance floor. Her return this year has been one of the season’s most watched storylines, and her Week 7 performance was the moment it all came together: a confident, polished American Smooth to “It Had To Be You” by Harry Connick Jr, delivered with the poise of a dancer who has found her rhythm.
The judges were effusive, and Mabuse’s 10 was a mark of how far Dyer has come. The American Smooth is one of the most demanding dances in the competition, requiring a combination of ballroom technique and showmanship, and Dyer’s performance had both.
What next for Dyer
With Week 8 on Saturday, 14 November, and Blackpool on 21 November, Dyer is now firmly in contention for the final weeks of the competition. The remaining field is nine couples, and the race to the Tower Ballroom is tighter than ever. Cach Mercer and John Nellis shared the bottom of last week’s leaderboard on 26, and Cach has already used up his rescue, while Dyer sits at the top with the momentum behind her.
For Dyer, the leaderboard is only part of the story. Her comeback, from injury withdrawal to topping the scores, is the kind of narrative that wins viewers’ hearts as well as judges’ marks. Whether she can keep it up through Blackpool and beyond remains to be seen, but on Saturday night, at least, she was the best dancer in the ballroom.
Related: Strictly Week 8: Nine Couples, One Dance From Blackpool; Bethany Antonia Exits Strictly After Dance-Off.
