Amber Davies will step into the Strictly Come Dancing line-up after Dani Dyer was forced to quit the show with a fractured ankle.
The Welsh performer will make her live show debut on Saturday night, dancing a waltz with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin.
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“This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life,” Amber said of her last-minute addition to the cast.
“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.”
Amber will compete alongside Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Alex Kingston, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke, La Voix, Chris Robshaw, Ellie Goldstein, Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Stefan Dennis, Ross King, Karen Carney and Lewis Cope.
Dyer, one of this year’s early favourites, announced on Tuesday that she had fractured her ankle during rehearsals and would no longer be able to perform.
The announcement comes ahead of the first live show on Saturday, following the series’ launch last weekend.
Former and current cast members are among those who have flooded the comment section on the Strictly Come Dancing Instagram post to show their support, including professional dancer Amy Dowden, who said: “Welcome to the family”.
Former celebrity contestant Tasha Ghouri, also commented “Come onnn” while Bad Education star, Layton Williams, who competed in 2023 with Kuzmin, said, “I actually cannot with thissssss! So gassed for you bu. Not Nikita getting another theatre kid tehe.”
Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas joined in to welcome Davies, along with professional dancers, Karen Hauer and Jowita Przystal.
Former contestants Fleur East and Ore Oduba also shared their excitement – along with former Geordie Shore star and 2025 Strictly contestant, Vicky Pattinson, who said: “Welcome to the family hunny.”
Since winning the ITV dating show, Davies has embarked on a musical theatre career, with her most recent roles including Jordan Baker in the London production of The Great Gatsby, Vivian Ward on the UK tour of Pretty Woman and Lorraine Baines in the West End production of Back To The Future The Musical.
She is also set to play Elle Woods in a new production of Legally Blonde The Musical, which is based on the novel by Amanda Browning and the 2001 film of the same name that starred Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Coolidge.
Davies was also a contestant on ITV1’s Dancing On Ice in 2024, however was booted off the programme in a public vote during the semi-final.
In a video shared on Tuesday, Dyer said she was “heartbroken” to not be able to compete and told her followers she would be taking time off of social media to process her departure.
She said: “I was having the best time ever… It’s just (a) very, very annoying, devastating thing that I’m kind of going through right now, but I’m probably just going to have a few days off my socials just to, you know, process things.”
The new series kicked off last weekend with its 15 celebrity contestants, including Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, taking the stage for the first time.
The series, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman and judged by Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse, will return this Saturday at 6.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
