Hardmen rivals Ray Winstone & Danny Dyer to add extra spice to Strictly as they back dancing daughters

STRICTLY’S Jaime Winstone has predicted a battle of the Cockneys — with both her and rival Dani Dyer being cheered on by their screen tough-guy dads. In Jaime’s corner will be The Gentlemen star, Ray, while Dani will be supported by former EastEnders actor Danny. Dani Dyer is returning to Strictly after having to pull out through injury last year Credit: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston Jaime Winstone was a surprise signing for this year’s show Credit: WireImage Pals Ray, 69, and Danny, 49, both grew up in East London and are currently working on their first film together in 20 years — playing gangsters in British crime film Going Under. Actress Jaime, 41, spoke exclusively to The Sun on Sunday while at London’s Guildhall for the season two premiere of the Guy Ritchie Netflix series. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Asked if her parents will be at the live Strictly shows, she said: “Well, I hope so. I’m here for my dad tonight, so hopefully he’ll be there for me.” A source said: “Ray and Danny are both big family men and, despite appearing tough on screen, will be emotional when they see their daughters take to the dancefloor. “Danny and Ray both know how to enjoy themselves and will no doubt be holding court at the afterparty.” Jaime was a surprise signing for this year’s series, having made a name for herself starring in edgy films such as Kidulthood. She also played a young Peggy Mitchell in an EastEnders flashback episode. She told The Sun on Sunday she had formed a “girl gang” in the run-up to Strictly, which starts on September 19. Fellow members are 30-year-old Dani — returning to the show after having to pull out through injury last year — and EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, 38. Most read in TV Jaime said: “Dani is like a little sister to me and I’ve worked with Lacey, so it feels like a very homely scene already. We are all so different, yet all so similar.” She went on: “I just can’t wait to get started and to find out who I’m dancing with.” Asked what had surprised her most about Strictly, she said: “It’s a lot of work. But it is joyous and I’m really enjoying it. I’m just really excited to enter my showgirl era.” Jaime, who has a ten-year-old son with DJ hubby James Suckling, has toned down her party ways since being regularly snapped falling out of nightclubs in the Noughties. In Jaime’s corner will be The Gentlemen star, Ray Credit: WireImage Dani will be supported by former EastEnders actor dad Danny Credit: Alamy She shared a London flat with model Daisy Lowe and actress Mischa Barton, and at one point was engaged to pal Lily Allen’s younger actor brother Alfie. Others in her circle included Pixie Geldof, Alexa Chung, Nick Grimshaw, Kelly Osbourne and designer Henry Holland. But she struggled with being in the spotlight and admitted: “I didn’t want to be known for having a famous dad or for dating Alfie.” In an interview with the Sunday Times she confessed: “I hated being called a party girl. “I was never hardcore. I’ve always been super-serious with my work. “But, you know, I don’t know any 19-year-old that isn’t stumbling a little bit out of clubs. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to be doing?” Her parents regularly threw parties for showbiz pals and, when the family moved to Essex, Ray built a garden pub called The Raymondo. Jaime said: “It has always been very natural for us to have a drink, have a dance. “There’s an expression for my dad, after he’d take people out — I’ve heard so many people say, ‘I’ve been Winstoned!’.” After the pandemic, Jaime launched a podcast called Greatest Night Ever, with her interviewing celeb pals, including Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora about the most hedonistic bashes they had encountered. But now, in contrast, she visits Ibiza to unwind rather than party. She told The Observer: “At this stage of my life, the healing, spiritual aspect appeals to me more.” Comment now