Former reality star Amber Davies became the last-minute hero of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing series when she replaced Dani Dyer a day before the first 2025 live show.
The 28-year-old Love Island winner, who came first in the ITV dating competition in 2017 alongside her then-partner Kem Cetinay, was revealed to be joining the cast after Dyer withdrew from the programme due to an ankle injury.
Asked how she felt about joining with minimal training, Davies 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.
She added: “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.”
Despite Davies and Cetinay winning Love Island in 2017, the couple split just a few months after the series came to an end and she has since been dating West End actor Ben Joyce for the past two years.
Davies, who was born in Denbigh, North Wales, landed numerous lucrative brand collaborations following her time on Love Island, including a £500,000 deal to become the face of Motel Rocks.
However, the star, who’d gained a scholarship to train in musical theatre at the Urdang Academy in London as a teenager, ultimately had ambitions to return to the stage following her reality TV stint.
A year after Davies left Love Island it was announced she would make her West End debut as office girl July Bernly in the Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5, alongside Louise Redknapp.
Critics were dubious but Davies told The Standard at the time: “I only graduated in 2016, so I'm very fresh out of college. But I am trained and I have every right to be her.”
She added: “I'm waiting and ready to prove people wrong.
“I know they're gonna come in with a bit of, 'Let's see how Amber from Love Island will sing,' and I just can't wait – I want everyone to be pleasantly surprised.”
Davies went on to land roles in further West End shows, including Bring It On, Back to the Future and Pretty Woman, in which she played the lead role of Vivian Ward.
Next year, she will play Reese Witherspoon’s role of Elle Woods in a Legally Blonde musical, which will tour across the UK and Ireland.
Davies emphasised that her time on Love Island “doesn’t define” her, noting she’s worked hard and has had vocal coaching since she was six. “[I’ve] always wanted to be on the West End stage,” she said.
This isn’t the actor’s first foray into a daring televised competition. Last year, she competed in the 16th series of Dancing on Ice, alongside Armenian national champion Simon Proulx-Sénécal.
The pair made it to the semi finals but were eliminated in week eight, with radio host Adele Roberts, Made in Chelsea star Miles Nazaire and Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas beating her to the final.
While Davies professional dance training may help her with rhythm and flexibility when it comes to learning some Strictly routines, the ballroom and latin techniques are sure to still put her through her paces.
The actor has only just started rehearsals with Kuzmin but they will still be joining the other Strictly couples to take to the dancefloor and perform a Waltz on Saturday night’s first live show of the series.
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