Honestly, seeing Dani Dyer and Vicky Pattison on this week’s cover was breathtaking! They looked absolutely incredible – glamorous, confident, and definitely *not* what you’d call ‘little puddings’! They were total stars, radiating confidence and looking like a million dollars.
Vicky definitely feels that way, having just joined us in the studio soon after ‘Big Dance Day’ – the first time all the ‘Strictly’ stars and dancers meet up.
Honestly, being around those incredible dancers feels like a dream. They move with such grace and precision, they’re just breathtaking. And there I am, feeling a little self-conscious in my workout clothes, like a bit of a clumsy mess compared to them!
Vicky, the winner of ‘I’m A Celebrity’ a few years ago, says she was completely stunned when she started dancing and realized how bad she was. She described being ‘in a state of shock’.
Just like previous Love Island contestant Dani Dyer, 29, the pressure of performing live on television is starting to set in, despite all the hard work she’s put into rehearsals.
It’s not really the dancing that worries me,” she admitted. “I get terrified of live television. I’ve turned down a lot of opportunities because the thought of performing live fills me with panic. There are no do-overs, and that’s what I’m most afraid of.
‘I was going to say terrified, so yes, petrified works,’ says Vicky.
Ultimately, they are responsible for their involvement in the show. Both participated willingly, though one may have needed assistance to do so.
Vicky shared that two years ago, she made a vision board filled with things she wanted in life – like wedding dresses, rings, a puppy, and a house. She even included a funny picture: Gemma Atkinson, a former actress from ‘Hollyoaks’ and contestant on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in a sparkly outfit, with Vicky’s face photoshopped onto it.
‘I feel like a proper creep,’ she laughs. ‘But I love a bit of manifestation.’
Dani also believes her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing was a result of her mother-in-law’s positive energy – she jokingly calls her mother-in-law, the mum of her husband Jarrod Bowen (a West Ham captain who she’s been married to for four months), ‘a bit of a white witch’.
Dani recalls that her friend, a big fan of *Strictly Come Dancing*, predicted she would be a contestant this year. ‘I think that’ll be you next year,’ her friend said while watching the show last year, Dani remembers.
Someone introduced me to manifestation cards and crystals, and I’ve noticed a real shift in my life since then. It’s all about focusing on positive energy.
Vicky wholeheartedly agrees, saying her vision board has helped her achieve all sorts of goals, both professionally and personally – including landing documentary projects, hosting radio shows, and even finding a partner and getting a dog.
It’s no surprise Dani and Vicky have become close friends since starting on Strictly 2025. They’ve been bonding over their shared anxieties and, according to Vicky, exchanging some fun gossip through WhatsApp messages.
Oh my gosh, can you BELIEVE who else is on the show this year?! We’ve got Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – seriously, Gladiator Nitro himself! – and then, like, actual ACTORS! Alex Kingston, Stefan Dennis, Lewis Cope, and Balvinder Sopal are all competing! I’m already losing it!
The judging panel also includes former soccer players Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Karen Carney, drag artist La Voix, rugby player Chris Robshaw, model Ellie Goldstein (who has Down’s syndrome), and TV personalities Thomas Skinner and Ross King.
Vicky and Dani both come from reality TV backgrounds, but Vicky has complicated feelings about her time on the MTV show *Geordie Shore*. She was known for being outspoken on the Newcastle-based series, which she appeared on from 2011 to 2014.
I appreciate the experience now, but it wasn’t always easy. I used to worry about everything, and sometimes felt like I didn’t have control over the situation, which led me to drink too much. I was young and still figuring things out.
Little wonder that Vicky has made a determined effort to branch out in recent years.
She first gained fame by winning a reality TV show in 2015, but has since dedicated herself to her podcast, Get A Grip, and creating documentaries. She acknowledges, however, that many people still primarily know her from her time on television.
‘Some people are committed to the idea of who you were 15 years ago,’ she says.
Dani gained wider recognition after winning the 2018 series of Love Island with her then-boyfriend, Jack Fincham. However, she seems less concerned with what the public thinks, likely because growing up as the daughter of actor Danny Dyer gave her a strong understanding of the entertainment industry.
My dad always told me to stay true to myself, not try to be someone else to please others, and not let criticism bother me too much,” she explained. “I’ve learned a lot from that advice.
Danny and Joanne, Dani’s mother, will be in the audience to support her at the start of Strictly.
It was clear how much she adored her father. Instead of dancing with her husband, Jarrod, she chose to share a special first dance with her dad. After he walked her down the aisle, they slow-danced to a beautiful version of Ray Charles’s ‘Georgia On My Mind’.
She explains that because her parents were so young when she was born – her dad was only 19 – they’ve essentially all grown up alongside each other. She describes their relationship as being more like close friends than a traditional parent-child dynamic.
At just 48 years old, Danny is now a grandfather to four grandchildren. He has a four-year-old grandson, Santi, from his son’s relationship with Sammy Kimmence, and two-year-old twin daughters, Summer and Star, with Jarrod.
After short relationships with both Jack Fincham, soon after leaving Love Island, and the father of her son Santi just a few months after he was born, Dani wasn’t actively seeking a new romance when Jarrod, her neighbor, began stopping by. He initially brought packages, and Dani now jokingly recalls he even asked her to help him read his electricity meter.
She realized he probably wouldn’t bother checking the gas or electricity meter, and that was just a reason to talk to me,” she said, laughing heartily.
I wasn’t feeling very good about how I looked then – my hair was untidy, and I was nursing a baby. It honestly didn’t cross my mind that he might be attracted to me.
She had no idea her attractive and kind neighbor, who had striking blue eyes, was actually a professional soccer player.
She says she would have been completely turned off by it if she’d known. Jarrod only felt brave enough to ask Dani out after he’d moved away from the neighborhood.
Dani was instantly drawn to him-those blue eyes really got to her. She decided to see where things would go, and she’s so glad she did. She describes him as a genuinely kind, relaxed, and easygoing person.
Okay, so I’m not *quite* as obsessed with Strictly as my mum is, but honestly, I’ll drop everything to be there live if my football schedule lets me. Seriously, anything! I just *need* to experience the magic in person whenever I can!
Dani says he’s incredibly supportive. Her whole family is thrilled for her, and her mum, in particular, is overjoyed. Her mum made a lot of sacrifices for them, so she really wants Dani to continue pursuing her passions. She constantly reminds Dani to embrace both motherhood and her own identity, encouraging her to simply enjoy life.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m often asked about the ‘Strictly curse,’ that rumour about celebrities finding romance with their professional dance partners on the show. Honestly? It’s not something to lose sleep over! The show’s launch is tonight, and while everyone involved keeps things pretty hush-hush beforehand, it’s mostly just speculation. I wouldn’t worry about happily married contestants falling for anyone else – it’s rarely a real concern.
“I just got married!” Dani jokes, and mentions that Jarrod’s mother actually predicted she’d end up with him. “She said he’d be one of two people with professional careers, and she was right!”
Vicky is even blunter when asked if she worries she might get the hots for her partner.
She’s asking if anyone has seen her husband, Ercan Ramadan, who owns a clothing company. They’ve been married for a year. While she thinks the dancers are nice, she describes her husband as exceptionally handsome and wonderful.
Vicky’s road to happiness wasn’t always smooth. After a few brief relationships in her twenties, she became engaged to John Noble, a businessman from Newcastle. However, the engagement ended in 2018 following reports that he had been unfaithful.
‘I thought that was my happily ever after, and in some ways I felt I failed,’ she says.
A few months later, Vicky cautiously agreed to a date with Ercan, who had contacted her through Instagram.
She recalls being in tears right before she was supposed to leave. But then, suddenly, he went to the restroom, and she immediately texted her friends, telling them to each get a hat!
They moved in together eight months later, though they only finally married last year.
Vicky had already frozen her eggs, a choice she and her partner made early in their relationship.
She felt we should let our relationship grow at its own pace, rather than rushing into things because of the pressure of her age.
She’s not planning on having a baby anytime soon, especially not while she’s competing on Strictly. ‘I have enough on my plate right now,’ she explains.
Vicky also deals with health issues. After years of severe symptoms being dismissed, she was diagnosed with PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) two years ago. This condition, which significantly impacts women, causes debilitating symptoms around their menstrual cycle.
After a deeply upsetting experience, she’s now advocating for an end to what she describes as bias against women in healthcare – what she calls ‘medical misogyny.’ She recently contacted Health Secretary Wes Streeting, requesting a meeting to talk about this problem.
‘He’s replied, and I’m due to meet him next month,’ she reveals.
You can see how deeply affected she is by what she’s been through. Her eyes well up with tears when she talks about the years she spent battling her health issues.
When it’s at its worst, you feel like you’ve lost all sense of who you are. I’m usually a very outgoing, confident, and happy person, but that all disappears and is replaced by overwhelming despair.
It feels like constant worry, being completely drained, and not being able to sleep. You start imagining the worst possible outcomes and become afraid of everything, and nothing seems to make you happy anymore. I’m dealing with all of that right now, actually.
I’m really worried this might affect her time on Strictly, but she seems to be taking it in stride. She admitted she struggled with PMDD during both her weddings, which is incredibly brave to share. But she’s hopeful, and so am I, that she can still find joy and keep going. She says she can’t control it, and honestly, all we can do is support her and hope for the best. It’s inspiring that she’s focusing on finding that joy again, even with everything going on.
Right now, she’s concentrating on the more immediate things. She’s gotten some advice from her podcast co-host, Angela Scanlon (who was on Strictly in 2023), who suggested soaking her feet in rubbing alcohol. Her close friend, Pete Wicks, who appeared on Strictly in 2024, will also be there to support her in the audience.
She said he was incredibly stressed throughout the whole experience, and since they’re both similar people, she’s bracing herself for feeling the same way. She added this with a laugh.
It’s impossible to truly prepare for the feeling of stepping onto the Strictly dance floor for the first time with a live audience watching.
Dani is really scared. She describes it like walking into a room and suddenly realizing you don’t know why you’re there, but with the added pressure of performing in front of a huge audience. She’s hoping her training will take over and help her get through it.
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday night, 6.40pm, BBC1 and iPlayer.
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2025-09-20 13:51