Former Love Island winner Amber Davies steps in at the last minute to join the Strictly Come Dancing line-up after Dani Dyer injures her ankle, bringing her extensive stage experience to the ballroom in an unexpected but promising debut.
Just days ago, Amber Davies might have been expecting a quiet Saturday evening at home watching Strictly Come Dancing. Instead, the 28-year-old former Love Island winner has been thrust onto the iconic BBC ballroom floor as a last-minute replacement for fellow Love Island star Dani Dyer, who was forced to withdraw from the competition after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals. Davies, who won the ITV reality dating show a year before Dyer, will have had only one day of training with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin before making her live debut on the series.
Amber Davies described the whirlwind nature of her arrival onto Strictly as the “craziest 24 hours” of her life. Having trained at the esteemed Urdang Academy and gained extensive stage experience as a West End performer, she brings a strong performing arts background to the ballroom. Davies has starred in musicals including Pretty Woman, 9 to 5, Dolly Parton’s show, and The Great Gatsby, which positions her as a front-runner despite the unorthodox, accelerated start to her participation. Bookmakers were quick to list her among the favourites to win following the announcement. Davies expressed enthusiasm and well wishes for Dani Dyer, hoping to “do her proud” on the dance floor.
Dani Dyer, 29, announced her departure on Tuesday following an MRI scan that confirmed a fractured ankle sustained during a fall in rehearsals. The injury occurred shortly after the show’s launch event, where Dyer had openly expressed excitement about participating with her partner Nikita Kuzmin. In an emotional video shared on social media, she described landing awkwardly during a training session and said she was “heartbroken” and “gutted”. Medical advice made it clear that dancing was not advisable on such an injury, ending her Strictly stint before the live shows even began. The news was met with widespread sympathy from the Strictly community, with judges and fellow contestants sending messages of support.
The BBC confirmed that Dani Dyer would not be competing this year and emphasised her passion and enthusiasm in rehearsals. Executive producer Sarah James highlighted the strong start Dyer and Kuzmin had made as a partnership, expressing hope for her eventual return. Meanwhile, speculation about whether there would be a new celebrity contestant joining the competition persisted until Amber Davies was announced as the replacement. Davies will continue the partnership with Kuzmin, beginning their performances with a waltz on the upcoming live show.
Dani’s exit is undoubtedly a blow to the show, which had only just begun its 2025 series. Her father, actor Danny Dyer, publicly expressed support for his daughter during this difficult time. Dani is expected to take time away from social media to focus on her recovery. Meanwhile, Amber Davies steps in with a blend of relief and excitement, bringing her extensive dance and stage experience to the ballroom and a strong desire to make the best of an unexpected opportunity. The coming weeks will reveal how she adapts to the pace and pressure of Strictly’s live environment.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the latest developments reported on 26 September 2025. Amber Davies’ participation as a replacement for Dani Dyer was confirmed on this date. The report is based on recent events and includes updated information, indicating a high freshness score. However, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strictly_Come_Dancing_series_23?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Dani Dyer and Amber Davies. Dyer’s statement about her injury and withdrawal from the show is consistent with her previous public statements. Davies’ comments about stepping into the competition are also consistent with her known public persona. No significant discrepancies or variations in the wording of these quotes were found, suggesting they are accurately reported.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism for sensationalism and inaccuracies in the past. Given the current date and the recency of the events reported, the source’s reliability is moderate.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The events described are plausible and align with other reports from reputable sources. Dani Dyer’s withdrawal from Strictly Come Dancing due to a fractured ankle has been confirmed by multiple outlets. Amber Davies’ replacement of Dyer is consistent with the show’s casting decisions. The language and tone of the report are appropriate for the topic and region, with no inconsistencies noted.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current and based on recent events, with consistent and accurate reporting of quotes. While the source has a history of sensationalism, the recency and corroboration of the events reported support a high confidence in the accuracy of the information presented.
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