By Jessica Sansome

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Dani Dyer is questioning her ‘sexiness’ ahead of her Strictly Come Dancing stint as she opened up about taking part in the show for the first time. The former Love Island winner is among the 15 celebrities set to take to the dance floor this year and she has already been backed for Glitterball glory by one of the show’s former professional dancers. But it’s fair to say the nerves are getting very real for Dani, who is the daughter of outspoken actor Danny Dyer, as the launch of the BBC One dance contest edges closer. “I am absolutely nervous, of course. It’s normal to be nervous but it’s about challenging the nerves. I am so excited. It just feels more real now. “It’s been months of shoots and all that but now we’re doing it, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s actually happening – I’ve got to stand and perform!'” She added: “This is the biggest show I’ve done since Love Island and obviously in Love Island, you’re so protected because you’re in a villa with loads of other people. You’d get through and you’d be like, ‘Oh, they like us as a couple!’ “But that was seven years ago so this for me is massive. I’m just going to try and pretend it’s not live, pretend they’re [the audience] are not there and just enjoy it as much as possible.” Dani also spoke fondly of learning to dance when she was little and how returning to a former passion is a dream come true. She told us: “I was little when I did dancing and I loved it so much. I went to a little dance school in the East End, I went on a Tuesday and Thursday and then when I got to a teenager, I just stopped it. “The only I thing I remembered was a Step-Ball-Change… When you look at the professional dancers, I’m like, ‘I’m in the wrong career here, I should have been a professional dancer.'” Dani was also quizzed on her dad’s thoughts about her Strictly stint, revealing him coming to watch isn’t actually his first time in the hit dance show’s ballroom. “He’s so excited for me. He loves the show. He’s been before to support Rose [Ayling-Ellis] when she was in it [and won in 2021] and he was emotional then. So he’s like, ‘I’ve got to keep it together!’ But no, he’s so happy for me.” It will be another big moment for Danny, after he watched his daughter get married to West Ham and England footballer Jarrod Bowen earlier this year. Dani shared: “He loved the wedding so much, so I think watching me dance, he’s going to really enjoy it. He loves a dance himself, really.” As it was suggested he should give Strictly a go, the reality star joked: “I need to get him up!” And it doesn’t sound like Dani is going to shy away from anything the show throws at her – particulalry when it comes to costumes. “I can’t wait to feel a bit sexy,” she confessed. “I’ve been a mum. My eldest is four now and I’ve always thought, the sexy thing, ‘Am I sexy?’ I think when I was on Love Island, I never wore the thong bikinis or anything and I’m like, ‘Why didn’t I do that?'” Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, September 20, at 6.40pm for its launch show