Waterloo Road star Tillie Amartey is in 'discussions' to replace Dani Dyer in Strictly Come Dancing
After Dani Dyer pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing on Tuesday (23.09.25), it has been reported that Waterloo Road star Tillie Amartey could replace her.
Waterloo Road actress Tillie Amartey is reportedly in talks to replace Dani Dyer in Strictly Come Dancing.
Love Island star Dani - who was partnered with 27-year-old professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin - pulled out of the hit BBC Latin and ballroom show on Tuesday (23.09.25) after she fell and fractured her ankle during rehearsal on Friday (19.09.25).
And now it has been claimed that Tillie - who took part in Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas special in 2023 and danced with 43 year old Neil Jones - could be brought in at the last minute.
A source told The Sun: "Tillie recently quit her role on Waterloo Road, telling pals it was to make way for 'another big' project, which could be a game changer for her career.
"She's been making several trips from her Leeds home to London for discussions with TV execs in recent weeks.
"The feeling is that if she is filling the shoes vacated by Dani, the programme needs another young, glam woman to take her spot.
"There is already an imbalance in the genders among the celebrities, as there are nine men taking part and six women. It's essential the number of females taking part doesn't drop further, and they want to try and maintain a similar balance in terms of the variety of ages too."
The insider added that Tillie - who has played Stacey Neville in the BBC school drama since 2024 - would receive a boost to her profile if she took part in the 12-week competition, of which the series' first live show kicks off on Saturday (27.09.25) night.
The source continued: "Tillie is incredibly ambitious and hard working and, even though she is just 22 years old, she's already made great strides in the industry - but wants to go much, much further.
"If she does sign up for Strictly, she will be using it very much as a platform for even bigger things and will definitely give it her all."
However, a source told MailOnline that Tillie is not in talks to replace Dani, 29, in Strictly Come Dancing.
The publication's insider said: "Tillie hasn't had any contact with Strictly Come Dancing.
"Bosses still don't know if they are replacing Dani yet."
Strictly Come Dancing Head Judge Shirley Ballas, 65, said she hopes Dani will be replaced as the show is a dancer down.
Speaking to Ben Shephard, 50, and Cat Deeley, 48, during Wednesday afternoon's episode of ITV's This Morning, she said: "I did speak to [Strictly Come Dancing's] Executive Producer, trying to get an answer for you this morning, but they are hustling and bustling to see what they can do, and how they can do it.
"We're a dancer down, so it's either somebody's not going to go home the first week, or something like that.
"But let's hope that they get somebody else, and somebody else gets the opportunity to share our show."
Dani is "heartbroken" that her injury has forced her to exit the competition early.
She said in a statement: "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 I've had to pull out of the show."
Instead, Dani will watch this year's Strictly and will be cheering on her co-stars from home.
Dani - who is the daughter of 48-year-old actor Danny Dyer - said: "I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on."
Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, was originally set to take part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, but he withdrew from the competition for medical reasons.
Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, 30, replaced him.
