EXCLUSIVE” Actor Danny has nothing but praise and love for Jarrod Bowen who is set to become his new son-in-law this weekend, when he marries reality star Dani Dyer

Sunnie Jo Dyer, Danny Dyer, Jarrod Bowen and Dani Dyer in March this year(Image: Getty Images)

Some men might be worried about meeting their father-in-law and rubbing shoulders with him on the wedding day. But footballer Jarrod Bowen can be pretty sure lifelong West Hame fan Danny Dyer will have his back in his speech on Saturday.

West Ham star Jarrod, 28, will marry TV star Dani in a fairytale day for the couple. And speaking ahead of the ceremony, film and TV actor Danny couldn’t wait to have the footballer as part of his family.

He praised him and also said his other daughter Sunnie, 18, has an impossible task bringing home another boyfriend who could ever compare. Danny said: “I have met every single boyfriend that has walked through my door – and then she brings home the West Ham captain.

“I have gone from the lying scum, and I hate them, to a man who I would not mind tonguing myself! A strong man. If he lent in I would put my lips on this geezer. He is just, as a father and joking aside, he took her on with a 14 month old son and that says a lot about a man I will tell you.

Jarrod Bowen playing for West Ham earlier this month(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“He is amazing. I can’t wait to give her away. What a touch. But if he was to make a move on me before… I think I’m in love with him, slightly.”

Jarrod joined West Ham in 2020 and has regularly been the best player on the pitch, including when he scored the winning goal to give West Ham their first trophy in 43 years during the 2023 Europa Conference League final.

Danny added: “Okay. He plays for West Ham. He’s one of West Ham’s hot ones. He’s the captain of West Ham. And he’s unbelievable, this guy. I mean, he comes in my house. I take his shoes off for him.

“And I give him the remote control. And I say, ‘Mate, this is your house now’. But he’s an incredible person. I just want someone to love my daughters the way I do. I want them to worship them and look after them. Let me tell you that. I love him.”

Dani and Jarrod are marrying this weekend after high profile hen and stag parties. Dani headed to Ibiza whilst Jarrod had been to Vegas. Dani’s trip included a boozy brunch, a boat trip and a raucous night in the lavish nightclub Ushuaia.

Danny added: “I feel sorry for my other daughter, who’s nearly 18, because she could never bring home a man to ever match what that man’s done for me.

“She could bring home a heart surgeon or, you know, somebody who cures cancer. And I go, ‘Well, really?’ I mean, he’s got the winning goal in Prague in a European final. I mean, it’s just incredible. I couldn’t have written a better script. He’s just such a beautiful man.”

Dani’s famous dad, Danny, is also besotted with the West Ham striker

In the lead up to the wedding this week Dani was seen visiting a salon in Essex on Thursday on route to her pampering session She has also spoken about her big day.

Speaking to Heat magazine, she said: “I have finally done my table plans now. Until you are in there writing names out, making sure you have tables of 10, it’s the most stressful experience ever – that’s the only thing I’ve not enjoyed.” Dani also revealed she will take on a double-barrel surname after the wedding, becoming Dyer-Bowen.

She said: “I am going to keep the Dyer – I am going to do Dani Dyer-Bowen just because of my work. I feel like if I am Dani Bowen, it takes that thing away from me. We are double-barrelling it.”

Yesterday she was also posting photos on social media of skincare products she and her bridesmaids had been gifted. In February Dani spoke about how she first met her fiancé in 2021 – because he was her neighbour and took in her parcels for her.

The couple are now engaged and have twin daughters, Summer and Star, both one. Dani also has son Santi, four, from a previous relationship. “Jarrod was my neighbour”, Dyer told the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast as she recalled the unusual story of how they met.

The soon-to-be married couple were neighbours before they started dating(Image: Dani Dyer/Instagram)

“I’ve never really spoken about this. I moved into the house I was in with Santi and he was only a few months old. It was a really small, cute little neighbourhood. I loved that house. People were like ‘oh, Jarrod Bowen lives next door’ but I didn’t follow football at the time, just wasn’t interested in football.

“Then he knocked on my door a couple of times because my parcels went there. I remember the first time I opened the door… You know what it’s like, slicked-back hair… and I opened the door and I didn’t know it was Jarrod Bowen and he was hot. Blue eyes, blonde hair, a bit of me.

“I was like ‘ohh, thanks!’ Then there was a few times I’d see him I used to know when he was leaving for football because I’d hear his car go and he’d reverse out and I was like, oh I can go put the bins out.

“There was once I knew I looked OK because I had a shoot that day and I remember walking back round and then I put the key in the door and he came out and I thought ‘I know I look good today’. So then he said ‘Have you got a meter reading key?’ Once, a meter reading key for your gas or something.

“But I did not think nothing of it and said ‘no, no I don’t’ and then he was like ‘oh I’m moving house’ and I was like ‘oh good luck with everything’.” Dyer said after he moved out Bowen messaged her on her birthday to say ‘happy birthday’ and following that ‘they never stopped speaking’.

She said she didn’t expect anything serious. She said: “When he first messaged me, I thought he’s very fit, I don’t mind having a little bit of fun with you, but I’m a mum now, you’re a footballer, you can go off and have your Gigi Hadids.

“I’m happy to have a little bit of fun with you if that’s what you want. You’re probably the first guy I’ve had with a six-pack.” But Jarrod stayed with her and much to the delight of Dani – and Danny – they will be married this weekend.