In a raw, emotional interview that’s rocking the Strictly Come Dancing world, Amber Davies has finally broken her silence on the storm of backlash that followed her all the way to the 2025 final – revealing she was explicitly warned by BBC bosses that her musical theatre background would spark accusations of an “unfair advantage” long before she even laced up her dancing shoes!

The 29-year-old Welsh beauty, a former Love Island winner turned West End sensation, joined the BBC juggernaut as a dramatic last-minute replacement for injured Dani Dyer – thrust into rehearsals with just 24 hours’ notice and partnered with pro Nikita Kuzmin. What followed was a whirlwind ride: stunning routines, perfect scores, tearful highs and lows… and a relentless wave of online hate claiming her professional dance training gave her an edge over “real amateurs.”

Speaking candidly in a post-final interview (sparking viral buzz across social media and Sunday Brunch), Amber admitted the pre-show warning hit hard. “I wasn’t naive going into Strictly,” she confessed. “The team said, ‘You will get backlash because you have some experience’. That was a lot to take on.”

She didn’t sugarcoat it: the criticism was “nasty,” often coming from older viewers rather than the younger fans who embraced her journey. “They weren’t actually coming from the younger audience,” she noted, pointing out the pattern seen with past musical theatre stars like Layton Williams, Danny Mac, and Ashley Roberts. “The nasty comments… genuinely getting worse” with each series.

But Amber refused to let the trolls dim her sparkle. “I wanted to be as present as I possibly could and remember it for exactly what it was,” she said. “I’d always wanted to do Strictly and never thought that call was going to happen.” She focused on the joy: the fears, the tears, the triumphs – soaking up every sequin-covered second.

The Last-Minute Drama: From Emergency Call to Ballroom Fireworks

Rewind to September 2025: Dani Dyer fractures her ankle in training, forcing a frantic scramble. Amber – fresh off West End runs in Legally Blonde, 9 to 5, and more – gets the shock call. “It was 48 hours before going live,” she recalled in one sit-down. Rehearsals with Nikita began almost immediately, turning the Welsh girl into a Strictly contender overnight.

Despite the chaos, chemistry ignited. Nikita became her rock, publicly defending her amid the hate. After one emotional week, he told Claudia Winkleman: “You had so much hate every single day… yet you came every single day into the training room with a big smile, ignoring everybody and just giving me love.”

The pair powered through: a tear-inducing perfect-score Jive to Tina Turner’s Proud Mary left Amber sobbing on the floor. Their Couple’s Choice to RAYE’s Fly Me to the Moon earned glowing praise – “unadulterated perfection,” fans raved. Even accusations of “copying” a West End routine in Musicals Week were shut down by the BBC and Amber herself, who insisted her training gave no shortcut – musical theatre and Strictly‘s ballroom styles were worlds apart.

Yet the backlash intensified. Viewers branded her a “ringer,” complaining her Urdang Academy scholarship and six West End shows meant she shouldn’t compete. Some even said she lacked charisma compared to others. After beating Emmerdale‘s Lewis Cope in the quarter-final dance-off, the vitriol peaked – Nikita urged fans to “be kind.”

Amber hit back gracefully: “I do understand how I have an advantage, I do… But I’ve worked just as hard as the other finalists.” She blocked out the noise, focusing on growth. “You try so hard, you try and explain,” she said, but ultimately chose presence over defense.

The Emotional Rollercoaster: Tears, Triumphs and Runner-Up Heartbreak

The final was magic. Amber and Nikita delivered show-stoppers, earning perfect 40s multiple times – unprecedented for a latecomer. They finished joint runners-up alongside George Clarke and Alexis Warr, with Lioness Karen Carney lifting the Glitterball alongside Carlos Gu.

Post-show, Amber broke down in tears on It Takes Two: “It makes me wanna cry… I can’t believe I’m here.” She reflected on the whirlwind start: “Just the way that we started – I had this opportunity thrown at me.”

Nikita’s speeches went viral: “Unprecedented,” he called their run. Amber sent him a sweet message later: “I miss this,” she wrote, tagging him in heartfelt posts.

Fans rallied: “Amber deserved every bit of that final!” one wrote. Supporters like fellow Love Island star Gabby Allen defended her: “She had every right to be there.” Even critics admitted her talent was undeniable – “dance of the series,” some called her routines.

The Bigger Picture: Why the ‘Ringer’ Debate Rages On

Amber’s story highlights Strictly‘s ongoing tension: Should trained performers be allowed? Past “ringers” like Layton faced similar storms; some insiders whisper bosses may rethink casting pros in future. But Amber’s grace shone: “I didn’t know what my purpose was until I realised I was getting negative comments for being good.”

She turned hate into motivation, proving resilience. “Ambition and confidence comes across as being stuck up,” she noted in one interview, addressing perceptions of her “arrogant” vibe. In reality? She’s humble, hardworking, and deeply grateful.

As she gears up for Legally Blonde return, Amber cherishes the memories: “Hands down best night of my life!” She thanked judges, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and the fans who voted.

The backlash? It stung – but it didn’t break her. Amber Davies danced through the storm, emerged runner-up, and proved: talent plus heart conquers all.

In a season of drama, her story stands out – a reminder that behind the glitter, real people face real criticism… and come out shining brighter.