Danny Dyer made sure guests altered the lyrics of a crude chant about Jarrod Bowen when the West Ham ace wed the actor's daughter Dani. Hammers skipper Bowen married his Love Island star bride in May last year.
Since joining from Hull City in 2020, Bowen has become a beloved figure at the London Stadium. He netted the winning goal when his team clinched the UEFA Conference League in 2023, and despite being associated with high-profile transfers elsewhere, he has commendably remained loyal. After rumours emerged in 2021, Bowen soon confirmed his relationship with Love Island series four winner Dani and two years on, they became parents to twin girls. The 29-year-old has the ultimate endorsement as Dani's father, EastEnders icon Danny, is a lifelong West Ham supporter.
In 2024, Bowen and Dani announced their engagement whilst holidaying in Ibiza and tied the knot last May during an opulent ceremony in Buckinghamshire. The father of the bride, who will appear alongside Dani on The Jonathan Ross Show this weekend, was given the responsibility of delivering a speech and took control of one of the Hammers faithful's favourite chants.
When speculation about Bowen and his partner dating became official in 2021, West Ham fans began to serenade the forward with a risqué chant. To the melody of Gala's 'Freed from Desire,' they sing: "Bowen's on fire and he's sh***ing Dani Dyer!"
This refrain gained particular popularity during the run to the Conference League final, and has since become a staple in the fans' repertoire of chants. At Bowen's wedding, Danny confessed he couldn't resist prompting those present to join in with a version of the song, albeit with lyrics that had been cleaned up for the occasion.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Danny shared: "I wanted to keep it light. So I said: 'Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, today's not about me, it's about this wonderful couple.'
"Then I go under the table and bring out my BAFTA. I thought: 'Oh my God, is this narcissistic?' But the cheer it got... I needed to make people laugh, so that's what I did. The speech was written for me, really. Because I alluded to me being more in love with him than her. Then I got us all to stand up and sing 'Bowen's on fire, and he's married Dani Dyer!'"
Dani herself has spoken about the infamous chant, revealing her true feelings on the Straight to the Comments! podcast. She said: "Not that long ago I went to an away game.
"I don't usually like going to the away games because there are the die-hard fans that are crazy. I really needed a drink, so I was like, I'd rather have died of dehydration to be honest, that was the better option.
"I came out and they were all looking at me and they all sang the song. I was literally in the midst of the crowds. It's fine, it's so fine, it really doesn't bother me."