Amber Davies joins Strictly Come Dancing as Dani Dyer's replacement

Amber Davies has been announced as the new star joining Strictly Come Dancing, replacing Dani Dyer who was forced to pull out after fracturing her ankle in training. Davies, a Love Island winner and West End performer, will make her debut on Saturday's first live show, dancing with partner Nikita Kuzmin.

Davies first rose to fame as the winner of Love Island in 2017 alongside Kem Cetinay. Since then she has pursued a professional acting career, with lead roles in theatre productions including Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical, and The Great Gatsby. On joining Strictly, Davies said: "This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life." Davies is set to perform a Waltz with Kuzmin in her first appearance.

The decision comes after Dani Dyer, who was originally partnered with Kuzmin, withdrew from the competition due to an ankle fracture sustained in training. BBC on Tuesday confirmed that the door would be left open for a return for the star next year, saying they hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future. This marks the second early exit of the season, following Game Of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn's withdrawal for medical reasons.

Dani Dyer later issued a statement explaining the accident: "I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle. 'Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable (!!) and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so I’ve had to pull out of the show. 'To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.'

Sarah James, Executive Producer for BBC Studios, paid tribute to Dyer, saying: "Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to the most sensational start. Everyone on the show is incredibly sad that she's no longer able to compete in this year's series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery, and we very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future."

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing lineup includes a mix of athletes, actors, reality stars and media personalities, such as Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, drag performer La Voix, reality star Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, football pundit Karen Carney, and others. Amber is joining this slate as she begins rehearsals with Kuzmin, with the pair scheduled to dance a Waltz on Saturday night.

Amber Davies’s entry into the competition adds a unique dynamic: a reality-TV winner transitioning to a long-running BBC ballroom series, paired with Kuzmin, who previously partnered with Dani. Davies said she has watched the show with her family for years and now aims to honor the format while delivering her own performance. The development underscores Strictly’s approach to replacing a contestant mid-season when injury or other unforeseen issues arise, and it nods to its ongoing appeal in blending pop culture crossovers with traditional dance.