Podcast Summary: Great Company with Jamie Laing

Episode: DANI DYER on Confidence Struggles, Dad's Addictions & Why I Never Visited My Son's Father In Prison
Date: October 29, 2025
Host: Jamie Laing, Jampot Productions
Guest: Dani Dyer

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and candid episode, Jamie Laing sits down with Dani Dyer—reality TV winner and daughter of actor Danny Dyer—to talk about her lifelong struggles with confidence, family relationships, her father’s battles with addiction, navigating fame, motherhood, and the immense pressure (and judgment) often placed on women. Dani also opens up about her ex-partner's incarceration and why she chose never to visit him in prison, as well as the realities of postnatal anxiety and loneliness. This episode is packed with relatability, laughter, and hard-earned insights on resilience and self-love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Down the “WAG” Stereotype

• [03:13] Dani expresses discomfort with being called a “WAG” (wife and girlfriend), sharing, “I hate that word...it’s just the way it’s said.” She and Jamie laugh over the football chants about her and her partner, Jared (West Ham).
  • Quote: “Whoever made that chant, I need…DM me…Because I want to know.” (Dani, 03:30)

2. Family & Upbringing: Growing Up Dyer

• [04:43] Dani reflects on being raised by parents who were “still teenagers,” fostering a mateship-like relationship.
  • Quote: “They were kind of like, still teenagers in a sense…so they’re like my friends.” (Dani, 04:51)
• She discusses her parents’ tumultuous but loving relationship, starting young and weathering hard times but deeply in love.
  • Quote: “You walk into a room and you just know they’re in love.” (Dani, 09:01)

3. Social Pressures and Moving to Essex

• [10:39] Moving from East London to Essex was “a massive cultural shock” with more emphasis on materialism and fitting in at school.
  • Quote: “In Essex, you had to wear Prada shoes…your skirt had to be rolled up a certain way and perfect foundation.” (Dani, 11:12)

4. Career Dreams, Nepotism, and Confidence Issues

• [13:15-16:11] Despite early acting aspirations, Dani explains why enduring rejection, online hate, and comparisons to her famous dad led her to quit pursuing acting.
  • Quote: “You’re either gonna ignore [the hate] and move on, or let them kind of win…In a sense, I just never really… I’m terrible with it. I don’t have this thick skin thing.” (Dani, 16:43)
• Opens up about her struggles with self-esteem, which began in her teens with bullying and body-image issues.
  • Quote: “I just never really had that [confidence], ever.” (Dani, 17:54)

5. Love Island, Anxiety & Mental Health

• [21:33-27:00] Jamie and Dani discuss the paradox of someone with low confidence signing up for Love Island. Dani explains it happened almost by accident after another show fell through, but she loved the experience.
• She reflects on the rapid relationships, intense public attention, her dad’s worry, and the challenge of managing her image post-show.
• Talks about the consequences of reality TV fame and the mental toll:
  • Quote: “You can come off a show like Love Island, you are so big and then all of a sudden, people can just forget about you…People just like to be mean.” (Dani, 34:03)
  • Discusses her admiration for former host Caroline Flack, emphasizing the importance of kindness and mental health support.

6. Navigating Relationships, Breakups, and Motherhood

• [48:49-59:17] Dani details her breakup with Love Island partner Jack Fincham, reuniting with a previous, “toxic” boyfriend, and unexpectedly becoming pregnant with her son, Santiago (“Santi”).
  • Quote: “Having Santi changed me as a person massively. I think I had to go through a tricky relationship to get my little boy, to change me, to move forward.” (Dani, 50:45)
• Reveals her pride in becoming fiercely protective as a single mum, even in the face of judgment and her ex’s legal troubles.
• Shares openly about a miscarriage prior to Santi and the anxiety of pregnancy after loss.
  • Quote: “When I got pregnant again, I don’t know how many scans I had…I was literally knocking at their door.” (Dani, 54:38)

7. On Her Son’s Father’s Incarceration

• [56:44-59:38] Dani’s ex-partner went to prison while she was raising their son. She discusses public backlash, being judged in the media, and her decision never to visit him:
  • Quote: “As soon as I had Santi, I knew what love was…It was like a switch. So I never went and visited him at all.” (Dani, 59:37)

8. Postnatal Anxiety & Loneliness

• [60:05-65:02] Dani speaks with honesty about postpartum anxiety, “the baby blues,” and the loneliness of new motherhood:
  • Quote: “You get sent home with this baby and you’ve got to look after the baby…My mum came and lived with me for a little while…when she left I was like, you’ve got to come back, Mum.” (Dani, 61:09)
• She gives advice to new parents to “enjoy the newborn bubble,” not to feel pressured to be perfect, and to seek help if struggling.

9. Dani’s Advice and Candid Reflections

• Postnatal depression vs. baby blues: Dani clarifies the difference, urging anyone struggling to seek help if “it carries on and you just feel really, really low.” (66:31)
• Talks about “mum guilt”—the feeling of being torn between caring for your child and wanting your own time or career.
• Practical & emotional advice for new mums and dads:
  • Quote: “Just ride the wave…If she wants to cry, let her cry. Angry, not really retaliating…Pure love and you…fall in love with your partner so much more when they do all them things.” (Dani, 69:38)

10. Her Dad’s Addiction Struggles

• [38:11-42:51] Dani recounts her father’s struggles with drugs, his stints in rehab, and how the family coped.
  • Quote: “We always say if he didn’t go rehab, he probably wouldn’t be here now…EastEnders did save him in a sense...he was in such a dark place.” (Dani, 39:16)
• She speaks openly about writing a letter to her dad while he was in rehab, although she doesn’t remember what she wrote—“maybe you’re in pain and everything you write floods out, and then it’s like you close it and never want to reopen it again.” (Dani, 43:31)

11. Strictly Come Dancing & Recent Setbacks

• [73:00-75:46] Dani describes joining Strictly Come Dancing, only to suffer a foot fracture and be forced to withdraw. She and Jamie bond over the disappointment and lack of control over sudden setbacks.
  • Quote: “That day, he [the physio] was like, just go home…And then the Tuesday morning, the phone call…it was like someone had died. I know that sounds dramatic, but…” (Dani, 74:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You’re either gonna ignore [the hate] and move on...Or let them win...I don’t have this thick skin thing.” – Dani ([16:43])
• “Having Santi changed me as a person massively.” – Dani ([50:48])
• “As soon as I had Santi, I knew what love was. It was like a switch…So I never went and visited him [in prison] at all.” – Dani ([59:37])
• “Do you know what’s amazing about you is I can see it in your whole demeanor…15, 16…you have the mentality to realize you want to cry…but you also have to stay strong.” – Jamie ([44:06])
• “Just ride the wave...If she wants to cry, let her cry…Stock up the fridge, do the night feeds, run her a nice bath.” – Dani ([69:38])
• “He always needs the biggest of everything…My dad.” – Dani, talking about her dad’s quirks ([36:25])

Important Timestamps

• [03:13] – “WAG” label & football chants
• [04:43] – Growing up with young parents
• [11:12] – Materialism/culture shock in Essex schools
• [13:15-16:11] – Acting dreams, confidence, “nepo baby”/online hate
• [17:54-19:09] – Teenage bullying, nose job, self-esteem
• [21:33-27:00] – Love Island journey, rapid fame, mentor reflections
• [34:03-35:52] – Reality TV’s mental health impact, Caroline Flack
• [38:11-43:31] – Dad’s addiction, rehab, family resilience
• [48:49-52:23] – Motherhood, miscarriage, unplanned pregnancy
• [54:24-59:38] – Relationship with son’s father, prison, and choosing not to visit
• [60:05-65:02] – Postnatal anxiety, motherhood advice
• [66:31] – Baby blues vs. postnatal depression
• [69:38] – Partner advice during postpartum
• [73:00-75:46] – Strictly Come Dancing injury and emotional fallout
• [76:18-78:44] – Quickfire questions: motivation, compliments, best/worst habits, guilty pleasures

Tone and Style

This episode is a mix of lighthearted banter, emotional honesty, and practical advice. Dani is open, vulnerable, self-deprecating, and relatable, with Jamie offering warmth, empathy, and humor throughout.

Concluding Advice

• Let yourself be imperfect, especially as a new parent.
• Don’t feel pressured to “bounce back” or let social media dictate your journey.
• Seek connection—whether with family, friends, or professionals—if struggling with anxiety or loneliness.
• Ignore unkind comments and recognize that even those who seem outwardly confident struggle with self-doubt.

For the full experience and to hear Dani’s warmth and wit, listen to the episode.