Given her professional dancing career, Amber Davies’ sudden arrival on Strictly was always going to attract suggestions of an unfair advantage.
Somewhat inevitably the 28-year-old blew fans away when she took to the dancefloor on Saturday night – having found out she was going to be competing just 24 hours before to replace injured Dani Dyer, 29.
Curiously, that adulation wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard after judge Anton Du Beke marked the West End performer down.
Fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, 60, Motsi Mabuse, 44, and Shirley Ballas, 65, all gave Miss Davies seven points after being impressed by her waltz with Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin.
But ex-professional Du Beke, 59 – who is usually renowned for being a generous scorer on the show – decided to give her just a six, despite saying: ‘It was lovely.’
In praise that seemed at odds with his score, he added: ‘The feel was gorgeous and I am looking forward enormously to what you’re going to perform because it is going to be absolutely beautiful.’
Given her professional dancing career, Amber Davies’ sudden arrival on Strictly was always going to attract suggestions of an unfair advantage
She blew fans away when she took to the dancefloor on Saturday night – having found out she was going to be competing just 24 hours before but judge Anton Du Beke marked her down
By comparison, Thomas Skinner, 34, who found fame on The Apprentice, received a five from Du Beke, prompting a fan to tweet: ‘Anton thinking Amber Davies was only 1 point better than Thomas Skinner is asinine to me.’
At the end of the show Ms Davies had 27, putting her behind actor Lewis Cope, 30, on 28 and ex-footballer Karen Carney with 31.
Strictly stars were said to be ‘furious’ that Ms Dyer was replaced by former Love Island winner Ms Davies after fracturing her ankle in training.
Ms Davies has had leading roles in musicals The Great Gatsby and 9 To 5 and was a dancer at the London club Cirque Le Soir. Critics believe judges had to step in to not mark her too high.
The Mail on Sunday revealed she had been turned down by Strictly bosses twice before as she was deemed to have too much dancing experience.
But following Ms Dyer’s accident they needed someone ‘ballroom ready’ quickly.
Ms Davies said she was hired at 9pm on Friday, adding: ‘I have gone from a Strictly fan to a contestant in a night’s sleep. What the hell.’
Executives were ‘concerned’ as they wanted celebrities who would ‘learn to dance in front of the viewers’ eyes’ rather than sign stars who were already trained.
Fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood , 60, Motsi Mabuse , 44, and Shirley Ballas , 65, all gave Miss Davies seven points after being impressed by her waltz with Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin
Two years after winning Love Island, Amber began her rebrand and pursued a career as a stage actress (pictured in The Great Gatsby)
Ms Davies graduated from The Urdang Academy, a London performing arts college, with a professional diploma in musical theatre.
And by the time of the last BBC meeting, in 2021, she had spent almost all of 2019 in London’s West End, playing Judy Bernly in 9 To 5: The Musical.
Ms Davies, who was a contestant on ITV’s Dancing On Ice last year, is now favourite to pick up the glitterball.
A source had told The Sun of the reported backstage anger: ‘The celebs are trying to be good sports about everything and don’t want to let on to show bosses they’re unhappy.
‘But behind the scenes, all the chatter is they think it’s unfair that the line-up now includes two sensational dancers who have substantial experience on stage.’
‘Having one celeb with that kind of background is one thing but having two is seen as unfair, particularly if they both ended up in the final.’
However, a spokesperson for the BBC told Daily Mail: ‘We’ve been shown absolutely no evidence to suggest that this story is true, or that the anonymous quote it is based on is from anyone connected to the series.’
Her casting echoes the row when another musical theatre star, Layton Williams, came runner-up in 2023. But a Strictly spokesman said the current team had no record of Ms Davies previously being rejected.
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.’
