Danny Dyer dances with Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin in his caravan park after revealing he has 'no desire to be mincing around in sequins' - as his daughter Dani tops the leaderboard
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He once insisted he had 'no desire to be mincing around in sequins'.
But Danny Dyer appeared to have had a change of heart this week when his daughter Dani Dyer and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Nikita Kuzmin visited his caravan park.
In footage filmed during the visit, Nikita was put to work mopping and cleaning before joining Danny for a dance – putting his own spin on a ballroom dance despite having repeatedly ruled out taking part in the BBC show himself.
Danny then joked that there were plenty of jobs around the caravan park that the professional dancer could get stuck into.
'We do need a bit of help round the gaff,' he said. 'There's lots of jobs I think Nikita is going to be perfect for.'
Nikita then appeared to accept his fate, saying: 'If Danny Dyer tells you to go do some odd jobs, you just do it.'
He once insisted he had 'no desire to be mincing around in sequins.' But Danny Dyer appeared to have had a change of heart this week when he danced with Nikita Kuzmin
Danny also admitted that, despite having grown fond of Nikita, it remained strange to watch him lift and spin his daughter around the dancefloor.
'I've grown to love Nikita, but it's always an odd thing to see your daughter getting spun round a geezer's neck,' he said.
He went on to tell the pair: 'So proud of the pair of you.'
The light-hearted moment came as Dani and Nikita delivered their strongest performance of the competition so far on Saturday night.
Performing last, the pair danced the American Smooth to It Had To Be You, earning an impressive 36 points from the judges – including a ten – with scores of 8, 10, 9 and 9.
The result sent them straight to the top of the leaderboard, leaving Dani visibly delighted as she celebrated with her partner.
Yet it was only weeks ago that Dani revealed the real reason her father had refused to follow her into the Strictly ballroom.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said Danny had been approached about taking part in the programme but could not face the gruelling training schedule.
'He's just said he absolutely wouldn't. He couldn't do the training. He couldn't do it, he couldn't do the hours,' she said. 'He said to me, 'I just couldn't be doing all those hours a day, baby.'
Dani and Nikita delivered their strongest performance of the competition so far on Saturday night. Performing last, the pair danced the American Smooth to It Had To Be You
Nikita, however, insisted that Danny would bring plenty of entertainment to the show if he ever changed his mind.
'I could see your dad doing it, getting proper into it. It would be the biggest entertainment you've ever seen on the show. A Paso or a tango, he'd smash that,' he said.
Dani agreed, adding: 'Yes, he would be so entertaining, wouldn't he. He can move a little bit.'
Danny has previously revealed that he receives annual approaches to compete on Strictly – although his position appeared firm when he said: 'I've got no desire to be mincing around in sequins.'
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
LACEY TURNER
AGE: 38
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC's EastEnders
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I'm so excited and terrified at the same time but I've had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.'
DELTA GOODREM
AGE: 41
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career - from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!'
CACH MERCER
AGE: 25
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!'
DAME SARAH STOREY
AGE: 48
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain's most successful Paralympian
WHY STRICTLY?: 'Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.'
BETHANY ANTONIA
AGE: 28
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.'
GRAEME 'THE DOGFATHER' HALL
AGE: 59
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!'
TABBY STOECKER
AGE: 25
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!'
MELANIE WALTERS
AGE: 64
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey
WHY STRICTLY?: 'Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.'
DANI DYER
AGE: 30
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!'
CHRIS APPLETON
AGE: 43
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars - including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.'
WILL BEST
AGE: 41
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!'
JAIME WINSTONE
AGE: 41
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.'
SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS
AGE: 44
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City
WHY STRICTLY?: 'Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!'
LAWRENCE ROBB
AGE: 34
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Mackenzie Boyd on ITV's Emmerdale
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I can't quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time!'
JOHN NELLIS
AGE: 33
BEST KNOWN FOR?: Face of a popular football-focused YouTube channel
WHY STRICTLY?: 'I can't wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!'
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