Just days ago, Amber Davies might have been expecting a quiet Saturday evening at home watching Strictly Come Dancing. Instead, the 28-year-old former Love Island winner has been thrust onto the iconic BBC ballroom floor as a last-minute replacement for fellow Love Island star Dani Dyer, who was forced to withdraw from the competition after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals. Davies, who won the ITV reality dating show a year before Dyer, will have had only one day of training with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin before making her live debut on the series.

Amber Davies described the whirlwind nature of her arrival onto Strictly as the "craziest 24 hours" of her life. Having trained at the esteemed Urdang Academy and gained extensive stage experience as a West End performer, she brings a strong performing arts background to the ballroom. Davies has starred in musicals including Pretty Woman, 9 to 5, Dolly Parton’s show, and The Great Gatsby, which positions her as a front-runner despite the unorthodox, accelerated start to her participation. Bookmakers were quick to list her among the favourites to win following the announcement. Davies expressed enthusiasm and well wishes for Dani Dyer, hoping to "do her proud" on the dance floor.

Dani Dyer, 29, announced her departure on Tuesday following an MRI scan that confirmed a fractured ankle sustained during a fall in rehearsals. The injury occurred shortly after the show’s launch event, where Dyer had openly expressed excitement about participating with her partner Nikita Kuzmin. In an emotional video shared on social media, she described landing awkwardly during a training session and said she was "heartbroken" and "gutted". Medical advice made it clear that dancing was not advisable on such an injury, ending her Strictly stint before the live shows even began. The news was met with widespread sympathy from the Strictly community, with judges and fellow contestants sending messages of support.

The BBC confirmed that Dani Dyer would not be competing this year and emphasised her passion and enthusiasm in rehearsals. Executive producer Sarah James highlighted the strong start Dyer and Kuzmin had made as a partnership, expressing hope for her eventual return. Meanwhile, speculation about whether there would be a new celebrity contestant joining the competition persisted until Amber Davies was announced as the replacement. Davies will continue the partnership with Kuzmin, beginning their performances with a waltz on the upcoming live show.

Dani’s exit is undoubtedly a blow to the show, which had only just begun its 2025 series. Her father, actor Danny Dyer, publicly expressed support for his daughter during this difficult time. Dani is expected to take time away from social media to focus on her recovery. Meanwhile, Amber Davies steps in with a blend of relief and excitement, bringing her extensive dance and stage experience to the ballroom and a strong desire to make the best of an unexpected opportunity. The coming weeks will reveal how she adapts to the pace and pressure of Strictly’s live environment.

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Source: Noah Wire Services