STRICTLY Come Dancing has revealed Dani Dyer’s replacement as the new contestant is confirmed just hours before the first live show – and it’s another Love Islander.
The celebs were all due to perform their first routines this weekend on BBC One before injury struck.
9 Dani Dyer’s replacement on Strictly Come Dancing has been revealedCredit: BBC
9 Dani was forced to pull out of the show after she fractured her ankle during rehearsalsCredit: instagram
9 Former Love Islander and West End star Amber Davies has joined the show at the eleventh hourCredit: Splash
9 Amber won Love Island serie three with Kem CetinayCredit: Rex
Now it has been revealed the former Love Islander will be replaced by another star from the ITV2 reality show.
Amber Davies – who is now a big star in the West End – has joined the series, a day before the first live show.
Amber, 28, appeared on the third series of Love Island and won it alongside former flame Kem Cetinay.
Amber 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.
“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 has just started rehearsals with her partner Nikita Kuzmin, and they will dance a Waltz on tomorrow night’s first live show of the series.
Since winning Love Island in 2017, Amber has starred in a series of big West End musicals, including Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical and The Great Gatsby.
Earlier this week, she revealed she would be playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde UK tour.
It isn’t her first foray into reality TV dancing competitions either, as she competed in the 2024 series of Dancing on Ice, where she was the eighth celebrity to be eliminated.
Former Love Island winner Dan, 29, was forced to pull out of the 23rd series after sustaining an nasty fracture on her ankle.
Dani Dyer chokes back tears and says ‘I’m so heartbroken’ as she quits social media after pulling out of Strictly
The TV favourite was set to compete with professional dancer Nikita, 27, and perform a quickstep on Strictly Come Dancing.
Now the BBC has confirmed who will instead be taking to the dance floor in her place.
This comes after it was revealed that Dani, 29, was forced to leave the show, following the painful injury she sustained in training.
It read: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny.
“I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.”
9 Amber appeared in Love Island in 2017 before finding success on the stageCredit: ITV/REX/SHUTTERSTIOCK
Dani continued: “Apparently doing the Quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.
“To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement.
“I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”
Nikita’s devastation
Her professional partner Nikita also shared his devastated at losing Dani from the show in a touching tribute post on social media.
Sharing a number of pictures of their rehearsals on Instagram, he wrote: “So so gutted to have finished our journey before it even properly started.
“The amount of laughs and fun we had in this short time was unbelievable.
“Really loved our partnership and hope that one day we can actually get to week 1 lol but, heath is the most important thing.
“I’m wishing you the absolute best Dani, you’re so lovely, positive and a wonderful human being. And it breaks my heart knowing how excited you were to do your absolute best on the show!”
Although a potential comeback in 2026 has not been confirmed in any capacity, fans flocked to the comments section to share their hope that Dani would be able to come back to Strictly next year.
9 Amber is now a West End star and has appeared in numerous musicals including 9 to 5 and The Great GatsbyCredit: Splash News
9 Amber competed on Dancing on Ice in 2024 and was the eighth celebrity to be voted offCredit: Rex
9 The beauty was meant to perform the Quickstep on Saturday’s live showCredit: PA
9 Her partner Nikita Kuzmin also spoke of his devastation