Amber Davies’ Remarkable Strictly Come Dancing Journey: From Last-Minute Replacement to Semi-Finalist

An Unexpected Opportunity Becomes a Dream Come True

Amber Davies competed in the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2025, but her journey to the dance floor was anything but conventional. The Welsh star was drafted into this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up after Dani Dyer was forced to pull out after a shock injury. It was just eight hours after Davies posted a TikTok video anticipating a call from Strictly Come Dancing when she got a call from the dance show’s production team.

Rising to the Challenge Despite Controversy

Amber Davies was never meant to be on this series of Strictly Come Dancing, but the former Love Island winner has managed to make it all the way to the semi-finals. Davies made her live show debut performing a waltz with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin. Her journey hasn’t been without obstacles, as the star has had to compete in two dance-offs during her time on the show, eliminating Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lewis Cope.

During musicals week, Davies truly shone. Anton Du Beke labelled Amber Davies’ performance the best ever seen on the show in all 23 series. Despite scoring a perfect 40 from the judges for her Charleston to ‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat’ from Guys and Dolls, the star was in the bottom two against Lewis Cope.

Addressing the Backlash with Grace

Davies is actually a West End musicals star as her job, a controversy that Burke also faced in 2017, leading to intense debate about contestants with prior dance experience. However, Davies has handled the situation with maturity. She reminded everybody that she was never supposed to be here and was a quick replacement, and she is just doing her best. The love has been actually more overpowering the hate, she noted on the spin-off show It Takes Two.

The Road to the Final

As Amber prepares for the semi-finals, her determination remains unwavering. When she’s not in the training room with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, she’s back at her London home with her boyfriend, fellow West End actor Ben Joyce. Her unexpected journey from last-minute replacement to serious contender demonstrates that sometimes the best opportunities come when we least expect them, proving that dedication and talent can overcome any obstacle.