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Strictly’s Amber Davies shared a tearful looking selfie just hours ahead of Saturday’s live show, as she continues to face backlash over her dance experience.
The Love Island and West End star, 29, who has vowed to ‘block out’ the criticism, appeared emotional as she begged for votes ahead of her latest perfomance.
Forcing a smile in the back of a car she captioned the photo: ‘Strictly Show Day 7. The nerves start slightly earlier each week’.
‘To those who voted last week thank you! We’ve been working extra hard to get relaxed salsa Amber on the dance floor. If you have a vote spare this evening, please send out way we absolutely need it’.
Another close up snap showed the actress looking mournful as she penned: ‘Hearts going pitter patter and it’s not even 9am’.
Amber has face criticism since stepping in to replace injured Dani Dyer for having years of dancing experience in West End productions.
Strictly’s Amber Davies shared a tearful looking selfie just hours ahead of Saturday’s live show, as she continues to face backlash over her dance experience
The Love Island star who has vowed to ‘block out’ the criticism, appeared emotional as she begged for votes ahead of her latest perfomance (with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin)
But she’s now revealed how she was was keeping herself and pro partner Nikita Kuzmin, 27, ‘in a bubble’ away from negative comments, after he was pictured planting a tender kiss on her head.
She said: ‘So I am doing my very best not to look and listen to anything. I’m blocking out that noise and just being present in the moment’.
‘I am putting me, Nikita and Strictly in a bubble. All I want to do is go out there and enjoy the work we’ve done for the week, be in the moment and make us proud’.
In the wake of her intimate snaps with Nikita, sources close to Amber reacted to the images, telling the Daily Mail that any suggestion she has fallen victim to the show’s ‘curse’ is nonsense.
Amber went on to tell The Sun: ‘My motto for Strictly has been, just zone in and be present.’
It seems the actress’ boyfriend Ben Joyce was also unbothered by the snaps as he arrived at her London training studios last week in pictures obtained by The Sun.
An onlooker told the publication: ‘Ben was seen dropping a large suitcase off at the venue and was joined by their dog Oreo at the rehearsal space.
‘He looked a bit pensive — who knows if he was checking up on her — but he was revisiting the “scene of the crime”.
Another close up snap showed the actress looking mournful as she penned: ‘Hearts going pitter patter and it’s not even 9am’
The Love Island winner and actress has been criticised for having years of dance experience in West End productions prior to appearing on the BBC show
‘A lot of blokes would find it hard, leaving their missus training for hours on end, dancing with a hunky bloke, especially when they have so much chemistry on the dance floor.’
Amber revealed Ben is unfazed by speculation about her close bond with Nikita.
While sources claimed that Amber and Nikita’s chemistry has set tongues wagging behind the scenes, the performer has insisted she won’t fall victim to the show’s famous curse.
Amber insisted that Ben is ‘not a****d’ about talk of the famous Strictly curse, and said she’s also close to Nikita’s girlfriend Lauren Jaine.
She said: ‘The only good thing is Ben is not a****.
‘So I feel like I can brush it off as it is not affecting us in any way which is nice. I mean he is horizontal Ben.’
Amber went on to tell The Sun: ‘I love Lauren Nikita’s girlfriend so much. I text her all the time. All day, every day. Lauren spends more time with me than her fella. She actually came into my dressing room before she went to see Nikita [the other day]. I have stolen her.’
STRICTLY LINEUP 2025
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Age: 36
Profession: Olympic Sprinter and Gladiator
Harry says: ‘I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.’
Alex Kingston
Age: 62
Profession: Doctor Who actress
The actress teases: ‘My hips don’t lie.’
Balvinder Sopal
Age: 46
Profession: EastEnders actress
Balvinder says: ‘I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom.’
La Voix
Age: 45
Profession: Drag performer
She says: ‘Strictly is a national institution and I can’t wait to get started. All that’s left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here’s hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.’
Thomas Skinner
Age: 34
Profession: Reality star and entrepreneur
He says: ‘Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!’
Vicky Pattison
Age: 37
Profession: Reality TV star
She says: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up… but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified.’
Karen Carney
Age: 38
Profession: Football pundit
She says: ‘I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part.’
George Clark
Age: 25
Profession: YouTuber
He says: ‘Never thought I’d say this… but I’m doing Strictly! Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit.’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Age: 53
Profession: Former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach.
He says: ‘Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.’
Ellie Goldstein
Age: 23
Profession: Model, influencer and disability ambassador
She says: ‘It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream’.
Chris Robshaw
Age: 39
Profession: Rugby player
He says: ‘This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad-dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class’.
Stefan Dennis
Age: 66
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.’
Ross King
Age: 63
Profession: Showbiz correspondent
He says: ‘I can’t wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes!’
Lewis Cope
Age: 30
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.’
Amber Davies
Age: 28
Profession: West End star
She says: ‘This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life. I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger and to now be part of the show is a dream come true.’
