Former Love Island winner Amber Davies is the last-minute replacement taking over from Dani Dyer on Strictly.
She said: “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.”
Dyer was forced to quit the show after she fractured her ankle. Davies, 28, will pick up where Dyer left off, dancing with pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin.
The theatre star will make her debut on Strictly live’s show on Saturday, dancing the waltz. The new Strictly couple have just started rehearsals for the BBC dancing show. Although they don’t have much time to train, Davies has experience with dancing before.
Strictly’s Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin are a winning team. (BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Amber Davies’ dancing background
After winning Love Island in 2017 alongside her ex Kem Cetinay, Davies chased a career in the West End. Every inch the leading lady, she took on the top roles in theatre productions Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical and The Great Gatsby.
The former Love Island winner competed on ITV’s Dancing on Ice where she reached the semi-finals with her professional skating partner Simon Proulx-Sénécal.
Love Island’s Amber Davies on Dancing on Ice. (ITV screengrab)
Competing on DOI, she said she couldn’t rely on her dancing experience. “I feel like I’ve had to throw my dance training out the window a little bit,” Davies told RadioTimes.com.
She said: “[With] dancing you have to keep your legs straight, you have to be up tight. With skating, it’s all bent knees. I need to have ‘bend your knees’ on Simon’s forehead because I’m so upright all the time. So it’s swings and roundabouts really. Being on ice, it’s a different ballgame.”
Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies won Love Island in 2017. (Getty)
On Strictly, she will compete against many famous faces including: Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, soap star Balvinder Sopal, YouTuber George Clarke and BGT’s La Voix.
Rugby star Chris Robshaw, model Ellie Goldstein, The Apprentice’s Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, Lorraine presenter Ross King, Lioness star Karen Carney and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope are also taking part.
Dani Dyer ‘heartbroken’ to quit Strictly
The announcement comes days after Dyer revealed she was “heartbroken” to pull out of the dancing show on Tuesday.
She said in a statement: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.
Dani Dyer has been forced to quit Strictly. (BBC/Ray Burmiston)
“Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable (!!) and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so l’ve had to pull out of the show. To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”
Already, Dyer has been invited back to perform on Strictly another year.
Sarah James, executive producer at BBC Studios, said: “Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to the most sensational start.
“Everyone on the show is incredibly sad that she’s no longer able to compete in this year’s series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery, and we very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future.”
Dyer was the second star to quit the 2025 series after Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn was forced to withdraw on medical grounds before filming the live show. Emmerdale actor Cope was drafted in to replace him on the BBC show.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow at 6:55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.