Amber Davies Replaces Dani Dyer on Strictly Come Dancing, Prompting Backlash Over Experienced Dancers in Cast

Amber Davies has joined Strictly Come Dancing as a last-minute replacement for Dani Dyer, who withdrew after fracturing her ankle in training. The 28-year-old Love Island winner and West End performer posted her first on-set snap with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin from rehearsals just days before Saturday's first live show.

Dyer’s withdrawal on Tuesday created a sudden opening for Davies, who had been part of the season’s early chatter. A source told The Sun that some fellow contestants were furious at the inclusion of two dancers with substantial stage experience, arguing it could tilt the competition toward performers with pre-existing dance pedigrees.

Davies brings a notable performance pedigree to the ballroom. She has led West End roles in The Great Gatsby and 9 to 5, and has worked as a dancer at London’s Cirque Le Soir. She holds a Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance, studied at Danceworld Stage School, and trained at the Urdang Academy. In 2024 she competed on ITV’s Dancing On Ice, finishing fifth with pro skating partner Simon Proulx-Senecal.

With Davies in the fold, a sizable portion of this year’s Strictly cast already have prior dance experience. Lewis Cope trained in West End theatre for Billy Elliot and previously appeared on Sky’s Got To Dance with the Ruff Diamond troupe, reaching the final in 2013. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro on Gladiators, also lends a dance-ready background, having appeared in the 2024 Strictly Christmas special with Nancy Xu. Balvinder Sopal has said she dabbled in Latin and ballroom dancing as a hobby, and La Voix—RuPaul’s Drag Race alumna—also brings dance training from her time at the Urdang Academy.

Amber’s signing has stirred debate among fans online, with some viewers suggesting the show should prioritize dramatic journeys over pre-existing technique. Social media posts circulated questioning the fairness of a lineup that includes multiple competitors with substantial stage dance backgrounds, prompting discussions about the series’ evolving approach to talent and training.

The lineup for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 reflects a broad cross-section of talent, including Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, La Voix, Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Karen Carney, George Clark, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ellie Goldstein, Chris Robshaw, Stefan Dennis, Ross King, Lewis Cope and Amber Davies. As the premiere approaches, producers and judges will balance the aim of teaching new skills with the reality that several contestants arrive with substantial dance experience, potentially shaping the competition’s early momentum.