Amber Davies has finally spoken out — and her revelations have sent shockwaves through the Strictly Come Dancing fandom.
In an emotional, no-holds-barred interview, the Welsh West End star has revealed that BBC bosses warned her before she even stepped onto the Strictly dancefloor that her journey would be controversial. Her musical theatre background, she was told, would trigger claims of an “unfair advantage” — and the backlash could be brutal.
At the time, Amber says, the warning felt overwhelming. But she made a decision: she would not let the noise destroy the magic of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
A Call That Changed Everything
Amber’s Strictly story began in chaos.
Just days before the 2025 launch show, injury struck the cast. Dani Dyer fractured her ankle, and producers scrambled for a replacement. With barely 48 hours to prepare, Amber — Love Island winner turned West End powerhouse — got the call.
“I never thought that call would come,” she admitted. “It was all happening so fast.”
Thrown straight into rehearsals and paired with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, Amber had no time to ease in. Cameras rolled. Expectations soared. And almost immediately, the criticism began.
“You Will Get Backlash”
According to Amber, the BBC didn’t sugarcoat it.
“They told me straight up,” she said. “You will get backlash because you have experience.”
She understood the concern — but nothing could fully prepare her for what followed. Online, viewers branded her a “ringer,” claiming her theatre training gave her an edge over the so-called amateurs. The comments grew harsher with each passing week.
What surprised her most?
“The nastiest comments weren’t coming from younger fans,” she revealed. “It was older viewers.”
It was a familiar pattern. Previous musical theatre contestants — Danny Mac, Ashley Roberts, Layton Williams — had faced the same accusations. Amber now found herself added to that list.
Dancing Through the Hate
The pressure was intense, but Amber refused to crumble.
“I wanted to be present,” she said. “I didn’t want to miss a single second worrying about what people were saying.”
Inside the training room, she found her safe place — and an unshakeable ally in Nikita. As criticism mounted, he stood firmly by her side, publicly praising her resilience.
“You had hate every single day,” he told her on air. “And yet you walked into rehearsals smiling, giving nothing but love.”
Their chemistry was undeniable. From a flawless Jive that left Amber sobbing on the floor, to a Couple’s Choice that fans called “pure perfection,” the pair delivered performance after performance that silenced many doubters — but also intensified the debate.
The Moment the Backlash Exploded
The breaking point came after Amber defeated Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope in a tense dance-off. Social media erupted. Accusations flew. Nikita urged viewers to show kindness.
Amber responded with quiet grace.
“I do understand why people think I have an advantage,” she admitted. “But I’ve worked just as hard as everyone else.”
Rather than fighting every comment, she chose to block out the noise. “You try to explain, but at some point you have to protect yourself.”
The Final: Glory and Heartbreak
Against all odds, Amber reached the final — an extraordinary achievement for a last-minute contestant. The performances were electric. Perfect scores followed. The judges were unanimous in their praise.
When the Glitterball was finally lifted by Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, Amber and Nikita finished as joint runners-up — a result that left her overwhelmed with emotion.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” she said through tears. “Just the way it all started… it’s unbelievable.”
Nikita called their journey “unprecedented.” Fans flooded social media with support, many insisting Amber had delivered the dance of the series.
The Secret She Kept Until Now
Behind the smiles and sequins, Amber had carried one private truth:
she had been bracing for rejection from day one.
“I didn’t know what my purpose was,” she admitted, “until I realised I was being criticised for being good.”
Instead of breaking her, the backlash gave her clarity. She learned that confidence can be misread, ambition can be mistaken for arrogance — and that resilience is sometimes the greatest performance of all.
A Star Who Danced Through the Storm
Now, as she prepares to return to the West End, Amber looks back on Strictly with pride.
“It was the best night of my life,” she said.
The criticism hurt. The pressure was real. But it didn’t define her.
Amber Davies danced through the storm — and came out shining brighter.
