Strictly Come Dancing week one line-up revealed as Dani Dyer withdraws; Amber Davies steps in
Week one routines and songs disclosed as the BBC show begins without Dani Dyer, with Amber Davies announced as the new contestant.
Strictly Come Dancing has unveiled the week one dances and songs for the new series, as the show edges toward its first live performance this weekend. The official Strictly Instagram page released a clip featuring each pairing and the routines they will perform, giving the public their first glimpse of the celebrities on the floor. None of the couples will be eliminated in week one, but the broadcast will mark the first chance for viewers to see the contestants in action.
The reveal comes amid news that Dani Dyer has been forced to withdraw from the competition after fracturing her ankle during a training rehearsal. BBC bosses confirmed that the door would be left open for her return in the future. It was also noted that another star had already exited the lineup earlier in the week for medical reasons. The pre-launch build to the show thus shifted as producers sought a replacement to keep the competition balanced.
Vicky Pattison is set to perform the Cha Cha Cha to Ella Eyre's Best Of My Love, a routine she teased publicly as a spicy opener. Thomas Skinner and pro partner Amy Dowden will take on the Paso Doble to Hotei's Battle Without Honour Or Humanity, while Drag Race alum La Voix will perform the American Smooth to Pink Pony Club. Alex Kingston is slated for the Viennese Waltz to Michael Bublé's Cry Me A River, and Chris Robshaw will samba to EMF's Unbelievable. Ellie Goldstein will join pro partner Vito Coppola on the floor for a Cha Cha Cha to Ariana Grande's Yes And, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is booked for the Quick Step to The Fratellis' Chelsea Dagger. ITV daytime host Ross King will dance the Cha Cha Cha to Katy Perry's California Girls, and Stefan Dennis will Foxtrot to the Neighbours theme tune. Lewis Cope has a Jive to The Temptations Get Ready, while TikTok star George Clarke tackles the American Smooth to Myles Smith's Stargazing. The Samba will also feature Balvinder Sopal to KC and the Sunshine Band's Shake Your Booty, and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, aka Gladiator, will perform the Cha Cha Cha to Salt N Pepa's Push It. Finally, Karen Carney will tackle the Jive to Blondie's One Way or Another.
This week’s lineup comes as show bosses scrambled to adjust after Dani Dyer’s withdrawal from the competition due to injury. It was later announced that Amber Davies would join the show as the new celebrity contestant. During an appearance on This Morning, Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas said producers were busy looking for a replacement, noting that the show would adapt so no contestant would be sent home in week one if a replacement was necessary. The Daily Mail had reported Dani, 29, fractured her ankle after a Friday training fall; she posted a statement explaining that dancing on a fracture was not advisable and that she would be sidelined while she recovered.
The injury occurred before Dani had a chance to perform any routine on air. She had been revealed as partnering with Nikita Kuzmin ahead of the launch show, which had been pre-recorded prior to her accident. Dani described herself as petrified about performing live on Saturday nights and expressed heartbreak at missing the chance to dance on screen. BBC executives emphasized their support for Dani and their hope to welcome her back in the future, with Sarah James, Executive Producer for BBC Studios, highlighting her passion and the joy she brought to the show. The absence of Dani marks a notable early twist this year, with the series already marking its second withdrawal after Kristian Nairn exited the lineup for medical reasons before the first live show.
As the new week begins, fans watch closely to see how Amber Davies will fit into the dynamic and how the rest of the cast will perform under the added pressure of competing without one of the early favorites. The production team has indicated that the schedule will proceed as planned for the launch weekend, with the rest of the dancers delivering the week one performances while the competition remains open for the audience to vote in subsequent episodes. The situation also raises questions about how the competition will adapt if other celebrities face similar injuries, though show executives have reaffirmed their commitment to delivering a complete and entertaining season.