She has stepped in at the last minute to compete in this year’s series
Amber Davies has been named as the final contestant(Image: BBC/PA Wire)
Fans have defended the decision to add Amber Davies to this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up. The last-minute addition to the contestant list caused a divide among viewers ahead of tonight’s episode, with many highlighting her previous dance experience.
The former Love Island champion, who claimed victory on the ITV2 romance show alongside Kem Cetinay in 2017, is stepping in for fellow Love Islander Dani Dyer-Bowen following her withdrawal from the BBC dance competition.
She was forced to pull out this week following an ankle fracture sustained during rehearsals, and Amber stepped up with barely hours to spare ahead of the first performance.
Amber, who will dance alongside professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, commented: “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.
“I’m going to give it my all and I am sending Dani well wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope I do her proud.”
She said she was “still in shock” as she posted a mirror selfie to Instagram showing the pair in rehearsals. However, some viewers questioned if her career made her too qualified for the gig – potentially giving her an unfair advantage over other amateurs.
Following her Love Island triumph nearly ten years ago, Amber has pursued musical theatre – most recently securing the leading role of Elle Woods in a new staging of Legally Blonde The Musical, reports the Mirror.
“As much as I love Amber she’s another trained dancer (yes I know she’s not trained in ballroom) but still has rhythm and dance experience lol,” questioned one supporter as news of Amber’s participation emerged.
Another sceptical viewer pondered: “Amber Davis is a professional dancer no? how is that fair?” However, most commentators were thrilled to see Amber announced as Dani’s replacement, with some even declaring her their winner already.
In defence of her dancing ability, one fan wrote on Instagram: “There’s always a wide range of abilities on Strictly because if it all was beginners or all experienced, it would be boring.
“Plus if a replacement has come this late, it helps if they also have some experience so they’re not at a massive disadvantage competing against people who’ve been training for two weeks.”
(Image: amb_d/Instagram)
Another agreed: “The point of the show is to teach them ballroom and Latin dancing to competitive levels – doesn’t say anywhere that they are not allowed to have performed on stage or gone to drama school.”
A third echoed: “As long as they’re not trained in ballroom and Latin then it doesn’t matter. Ringers make the show more exciting anyway as we get to see amazing dances and it helps motivate the beginners.
“There has always been and always will be people with dance experience on the show, that’s not going to change so can we just move on?
“Amber is going to be wonderful and I can’t wait to watch her.” Others noted that Amber is not the only contestant with some past experience, with Lewis Cope having also previously spoken about his background in dance.
News of Amber’s role in the new production of Legally Blonde musical was only revealed earlier this week. The musical will travel across the UK and Ireland next year, beginning at Leicester’s Curve Theatre on February 7.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing the iconic role of Elle Woods in ROYO and Curve’s new production of Legally Blonde,” Amber announced on Monday. “As a huge fan of the film and the musical, this part is the role of a lifetime, and I am honoured to be stepping into Elle’s perfect heels.”
The multi-award winning Legally Blonde The Musical, based on Amanda Browning’s novel and the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Coolidge, boasts original music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin.
Amber added: “I have always wanted to work with the incredible theatrical mind that is Nikolai Foster, and I am so excited to hit the road again and bring Laurence O’Keefe’s incredible score back to the UK!”
The first Strictly episode airs at 6.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight, with the show expected to finish at 9.35pm after all of the couples have performed.
