The Strictly Come Dancing stage has been set ablaze with drama, and Amber Davies, the Love Island 2017 champion, is at the heart of it. Stepping into the iconic ballroom with just hours to prepare, Amber has found herself battling not only the complexities of ballroom dancing but also a wave of controversy over claims of a “fix” due to her professional dance background. In a bold and unapologetic response on It Takes Two on Monday, September 29, 2025, Amber addressed the rumors head-on, leaving fans buzzing and the Strictly community stunned.
Amber, who rose to fame alongside Kem Cetinay on ITV2’s hit dating show Love Island, was a late addition to the Strictly lineup. She stepped in for Love Island alum Dani Dyer, who was forced to withdraw after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals. Paired with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, Amber had less than 24 hours to master a Waltz to Adele’s When We Were Young for the first live show of the BBC One dance contest on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Despite the whirlwind preparation, Amber delivered a performance that left the audience enchanted and the judges—mostly—impressed.
Host Tess Daly couldn’t help but praise Amber’s composure, saying, “I bet you didn’t think this was going to be your Saturday night. With less than 24 hours’ notice, you did an absolutely beautiful job.” The judges echoed the sentiment, with Anton Du Beke calling the routine “gorgeous” and noting Amber’s “enormous potential,” though he pointed out flaws in her frame, awarding her a six. The other judges, however, were more generous, each giving her a seven, placing Amber tantalizingly close to the top of the leaderboard.
Amber’s dazzling debut wasn’t without controversy. Her background in musical theatre, including her recent starring role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical, sparked heated debate among fans. Some accused the show of being “fixed,” claiming her prior dance experience gave her an unfair advantage. The whispers grew louder as Amber prepared to take the Strictly stage, but the reality star wasn’t about to let the rumors dim her sparkle.
On It Takes Two, hosted by Janette Manrara and Fleur East, Amber seized the opportunity to set the record straight. When Fleur asked how her musical theatre background influenced her performance, Amber didn’t shy away. “Musicality helped a lot,” she admitted. “I can hear the music, I can feel the music, but the technical aspect? That was a whole different beast. We didn’t even have time to think about heel and toe!”
Her partner Nikita chimed in with a surprising confession: “This is the only time I’ll ever tell a student, ‘Don’t worry about the heels!’ We just had to get the routine going.” Amber doubled down, emphasizing the challenge of transitioning to ballroom and Latin. “It’s worlds apart from what I’ve done on a West End stage,” she said. “The technique is completely different, and it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be.” Fleur, ever the supportive host, quipped, “It’s only week one, babe. Buckle up!”
Amber’s candid response silenced critics and won over fans, who took to social media to rally behind her. Her honesty about the steep learning curve of ballroom dancing, combined with her undeniable charisma, has only amplified her star power. Performing a Waltz with such grace under pressure is no small feat, and Amber’s ability to hold her own against seasoned competitors has cemented her as a force to be reckoned with.