Amber Strictly – Reaches Final Amid Hate Comments Debate

Amber Davies became one of the most talked-about contestants on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025, but not only for her dancing. The Welsh performer, who first gained fame by winning Love Island in 2017, reached the final of the BBC dance competition while facing an intense wave of online hostility. Her journey sparked a wider conversation about prior training, public expectations, and the nature of criticism directed at female contestants.

Davies entered the series as a last-minute replacement after Dani Dyer withdrew shortly before the live shows. Paired with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, she quickly became a standout. Yet her West End background — which included roles in Pretty Woman and 9 to 5: The Musical — led some viewers to argue that she held an unfair advantage over celebrities with no dance training. The debate only intensified as she progressed through the competition.

By the time the final aired, Davies had not only delivered some of the season’s most memorable routines but had also spoken openly about the hateful messages she received. Her experience highlighted recurring tensions around the show, including how audiences react to contestants who arrive with stage experience and how confidence in women is often perceived differently than in men.

Who Is Amber Davies?

Key Facts About Amber Davies

• Amber Davies is a Welsh actress and television personality who first rose to national prominence by winning Love Island series 3 in 2017.
• She built a subsequent career in musical theatre, performing in major West End productions including Pretty Woman and 9 to 5: The Musical.
• In 2025, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing as a late replacement and reached the final, where she was ultimately runner-up to Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
• Her participation triggered significant online abuse, with critics claiming her stage experience gave her an unfair edge in the competition.
• Davies later stated that the most vicious comments came from older viewers, a remark that generated further discussion about the show’s audience demographics.
• Former Strictly professional James Jordan publicly defended her, saying viewers did not have to vote for her but should not send her direct abuse.

Amber Davies at a Glance

Did Amber Davies Make the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Final?

Yes. Amber Davies reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2025, making her one of the most notable contestants of the series. She was paired with Nikita Kuzmin after entering the competition as a replacement for Dani Dyer, who withdrew shortly before the live shows began. Their partnership produced several strong performances and earned them a place in the final.

The series was ultimately won by Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu. Davies and Kuzmin finished as runners-up, a result that many viewers felt reflected the high standard of dancing across the entire season.

Why Did Amber Davies Receive Hateful Comments?

The abuse directed at Davies stemmed largely from perceptions about her prior training. Critics argued that her experience performing in West End musicals — which require substantial dance ability — gave her an unfair advantage over contestants who had never danced before. The criticism escalated after she and Kuzmin beat Lewis Cope in the quarter-final dance-off, a result that prompted a surge of hostile messages online.

During the series, Nikita Kuzmin publicly urged viewers to “be kind” to Davies as the backlash grew. After the competition ended, Davies told the BBC that the most unpleasant feedback was “not actually coming from the younger audience” but from older viewers. She also said the level of mean-spirited reaction seemed to be worsening with each series. Former Strictly professional James Jordan defended her as well, stating that people do not have to vote for her but should not message her directly to express dislike.

What Was the Fallout From the Backlash?

The controversy became one of the defining storylines of the 2025 series. It prompted media coverage that went beyond dance analysis, touching on online toxicity, generational differences in viewing habits, and the particular scrutiny faced by female contestants who arrive with existing public profiles. Davies addressed the issue directly in interviews rather than avoiding it, a response that drew support from both former contestants and members of the public.

How Old Is Amber Davies and What About Her Family?

Amber Davies was born on 4 October 1996, which makes her 29 years old as of 2025. She grew up in Denbigh, a small town in North Wales, and later moved to pursue acting and television work.

Who Is Amber Davies’ Husband or Boyfriend?

There is no publicly confirmed information about Amber Davies being married or in a relationship as of 2025. Her personal life has remained largely private, and she has not disclosed a current partner in interviews or on social media. Earlier reports linked her to fellow cast members during her Love Island days, but those relationships ended years ago.

Does Amber Davies Have a Sister?

No reliable public source confirms that Amber Davies has a sister. While some social media posts have speculated about siblings, the available records — including her Wikipedia entry and BBC profile — do not list any sister. This remains an area where information is absent rather than confirmed one way or the other.

What Is the Timeline of Amber Davies’ Career?

1. 1996 — Born in Denbigh, Wales on 4 October.
2. 2017 — Won Love Island series 3, gaining national recognition as a reality TV personality.
3. 2019–2024 — Built a career in West End theatre, performing in Pretty Woman: The Musical and 9 to 5: The Musical.
4. Late 2024 / Early 2025 — Cast in Strictly Come Dancing as a late replacement for Dani Dyer.
5. 2025 — Competed on Strictly Come Dancing alongside Nikita Kuzmin; reached the final and finished as runner-up; spoke publicly about receiving hateful online comments.
6. February 2025 and beyond — Scheduled to begin touring as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical.

What Is Known and Unknown About Amber Davies?

Why Did the Hate Comments Become Such a Big Story?

The hostility directed at Amber Davies during her Strictly run became a major talking point because it tapped into several ongoing debates. The first is whether contestants with performance training — particularly those who have danced professionally on stage — should be allowed to compete on a show that traditionally pairs celebrities with professional dancers. That question has surfaced in previous series but rarely with the intensity seen in 2025.

The second factor was the nature of the abuse itself. Davies did not simply receive critical feedback; she was targeted with direct, personal attacks. Her decision to speak about it openly — including her observation that older viewers were the source of much of the nastiness — generated widespread discussion about generational attitudes and the anonymity of online platforms. James Jordan’s public defence added weight to her account, as he had both professional credibility and personal experience of the show’s pressures.

Finally, Davies’ own framing of the issue — that confident women are often labelled as “stuck-up” while those who are more reserved are called “too sweet” — resonated beyond the Strictly audience. It connected to broader cultural conversations about how female public figures are judged, making the story relevant well beyond the dance floor.

What Do the Sources Say?

The most detailed reporting on Amber Davies’ Strictly journey and the accompanying backlash comes from BBC News and The Independent. BBC News quoted Davies directly on the hate comments and her observation about older viewers. The Independent covered both the abuse and the defence mounted by James Jordan. The Radio Times published a profile covering her background, and the BBC’s own Strictly profile page lists her career achievements.

“It’s not actually coming from the younger audience, it’s from older people.”

— Amber Davies, speaking to BBC News (14 December 2025) about the source of the hateful comments

“People don’t have to vote for her, but they shouldn’t message her directly to say they dislike her.”

— James Jordan, former Strictly professional, quoted by The Independent

“Confidence in women is often read negatively. People frame confidence as ‘stuck-up’ while also criticising women for being ‘too sweet’.”

— Amber Davies, discussing gendered perceptions of confidence

What Is the Summary of Amber Davies’ Journey?

Amber Davies rose from a Love Island winner to a respected West End performer, then stepped onto the Strictly Come Dancing floor in 2025 as a late replacement. She danced her way to the final, became the subject of an intense debate about prior training, faced a wave of online abuse, and handled it with directness. She finished as runner-up behind Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, and is now preparing to tour as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical. For fans interested in other entertainment and reality TV coverage, the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Tickets, Cast, London 2025 guide offers information on another major stage production in the UK.

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