Amber Davies will replace Dani Dyer and make her Strictly Come Dancing debut tomorrow night

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Amber Davies will replace Dani Dyer and make her Strictly Come Dancing debut tomorrow night

Strictly Come Dancing bosses have confirmed that Amber Davies will perform in the first of the live shows which start this Saturday night.

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The former Love Island winner turned West End star is joining the cast as a last-minute signing when Dani Dyer unexpectedly had to pull out of the BBC competition earlier this week after sustaining an ankle fracture during rehearsals.

Instead, Amber will step in to Dani’s shoes, partnering with pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin. In a press release, a Strictly spokesperson said: “Amber is a Welsh actor, podcaster, TV personality, and West End star. Viewers will see her make her debut on tomorrow night’s Strictly Come Dancing.

“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.”

Dani Dyer with partner Nikita was forced to pull out the competition after an ankle injury

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Dani Dyer with partner Nikita was forced to pull out the competition after an ankle injury (Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Amber will compete on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing alongside Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 37, and EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 46, who is best known for playing Suki Panesar-Unwin in the BBC soap.

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Also in this year’s line-up is actress Alex Kingston, 62, known for her roles on shows like Doctor Who and medical drama ER, Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66, who played Paul Robinson, and Good Morning Britain and Lorraine correspondent Ross King, 63.

Sports stars taking part are rugby ace Chris Robshaw, 39, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, former Lioness footballer turned pundit Karen Carney, 38, and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 37, who is known as Nitro on the show.

Contestants making history this year are RuPaul’s Drag Race UK legend La Voix, 45, who is the first drag queen to take part in the show.

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While 23-year-old Ellie Goldstein, is the first person with Down’s Syndrome to appear on Strictly’s main show. The model has previously appeared on the cover of British Vogue and other high fashion magazines.

YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke, 25, has also been signed up. But this year’s most controversial contestant is former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, 34, who has hit the headlines this month after admitting he cheated on his wife just weeks after their wedding in 2022.

Earlier this week Dani – who was one of this year’s favourites to win Strictly – said she was ‘heartbroken’ at having to quit the BBC show. She shared: “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.

“Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so l’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.”