In a raw and revealing confession that’s left fans reeling, Amber Davies has opened up about her whirlwind journey on *Strictly Come Dancing*—and her words hit like an emotional bombshell. Eight years after her triumphant win on *Love Island*, the 29-year-old star admits she never dreamed she’d grace the BBC’s glittering ballroom floor. “I never thought I’d be able to do this, I didn’t think I was relevant enough,” she reveals in a heartbreaking admission that peels back the curtain on the cutthroat world of reality TV fame. This shocking truth? In an industry obsessed with “relevance,” even proven talents like Amber feel invisible after stepping out of the spotlight.
Amber’s path to *Strictly* was anything but planned. At just 20, she skyrocketed to stardom in 2017, splitting the £50,000 prize with ex-boyfriend Kem Cetinay on ITV’s steamy dating show. But while others chased endless TV gigs, Amber dove headfirst into the demanding realm of musical theatre, starring in West End hits like *9 to 5*, *Back to the Future*, and *The Great Gatsby*. “I’ve been a fan of Strictly all my life, so it’s an absolute honour,” she gushes. “I haven’t been on telly much—I’ve been in the musical theatre world. It’s lovely to be given this opportunity to show people who I am now.” Yet, her self-doubt exposes the harsh reality: fame is fleeting, and the pressure to prove yourself never ends.
The drama escalated when Amber was thrust into the competition as a last-minute replacement for injured contestant Dani Dyer, who suffered a broken bone in her foot during rehearsals. Fresh off wrapping *The Great Gatsby*, Amber was eyeing a luxurious four-month break—perhaps her first real downtime in years. “I was so ready for four months off,” she laughs through the exhaustion. But when the *Strictly* call came, she couldn’t resist. “I just thought, ‘I can’t say no to that—I’ll sleep when I’m dead!’” With only 10 days between gigs and a quick week-long holiday squeezed in, it felt like destiny—or a grueling test of endurance. This behind-the-scenes scramble highlights the shocking truth: *Strictly*’s glamorous facade hides a relentless grind that demands everything from its stars.
Now, ten weeks in, Amber has defied the odds, smashing her personal goal of reaching Blackpool Week. Dancing on that iconic floor was a dream come true, but she confesses the journey was riddled with doubt. “I think because of how we started our journey so quickly, we were on the back foot compared to everybody else,” she explains. Partnered with pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin, Amber has faced backlash from fans claiming her theatre background gives her an unfair edge. But Nikita fires back fiercely: “Amber’s growth has been under-appreciated. Of course she was great when she started, but she is developing Latin and ballroom skills that she simply didn’t have. She’s working her bottom off every day.” He insists the show thrives on diversity: “We need great people and we need novices.” This defense uncovers another layer of the emotional trap—the constant scrutiny that turns passion into a battlefield.
Amber brushes off the critics with grace, but her words reveal the mental toll. “I’ve never done Latin or ballroom before—and they are extremely hard,” she says. “You have to learn a routine, scrap it, learn another one. My brain has been the most worked that it’s been since I was doing my GCSEs.” The pros pour everything into their partners, and the learning curve is brutal. Earning perfect 10s for her paso doble and salsa, Amber’s talent shines, but the pressure is palpable. “Anything now is basically a bonus,” she says, refusing to jinx a potential glitterball win. Nikita, who’s been on the show since 2021 without a victory, dreams big: “I’ve never done it. I wish.”
This week, the duo tackles the lightning-fast jive to Tina Turner’s timeless anthem *Proud Mary*—a nod to Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez’s iconic 2017 performance. “Proud Mary is probably the best jive song in the world,” Nikita declares, surprised it’s only been used once in 20 years. Amber agrees: “The jive is the toughest routine we’ve done, but I love jiving. The song brings out the feel-good in everyone—we’ve had it on all week, and you just can’t get bored of it.” Yet, even in the joy, the exhaustion creeps in, exposing how *Strictly* pushes performers to their limits.
Off the dance floor, Amber’s boyfriend, fellow West End actor Ben Joyce, keeps her grounded—with a side of tough love. “I have a Craig at home!” she jokes, referring to judge Craig Revel Horwood. Ben pores over training videos, offering critiques despite not being a Latin expert. “When he says it’s really good, I do listen.” Rumors of a romance with Nikita? Firmly shut down. “It’s sad that a female and male can’t be creative together without getting rumours,” Amber sighs. Nikita chimes in: “Everybody is a silly billy.” With both in committed relationships—Nikita with model Lauren Jaine—they share “unconditional love and respect,” but bicker like siblings over silly things, like Amber’s 9:50 a.m. lunch requests.
Through it all, *Strictly* has forged Amber’s resilience. “What Nikita has taught me is to be proud of the work I’ve put in and to just be resilient,” she reflects. The judges’ feedback? “Worth their weight in gold—I will take everything they say on for the rest of my career.” As the final looms next month, Amber stays humble: “I’m not going there yet. I feel like I can’t believe I’m at week 10.”
Amber’s “heartbreaking” revelation isn’t just personal—it’s a window into the emotional traps of *Strictly*: the doubt, the grind, the scrutiny. Behind the sequins and smiles lies a shocking truth about perseverance in showbiz. Can Amber dance her way to victory? One thing’s clear: she’s already won by proving her relevance, one step at a time.