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Strictly Come Dancing Makes Major Lineup Change as Amber Davies Replaces Injured Emma Willis
Strictly Come Dancing has been forced into a major last minute change after Dani Dyer withdrew from the competition with a broken ankle, paving the way for Amber Davies to join the 2026 line up.
Dyer, 28, confirmed on Tuesday, September 23, that she had suffered the injury during rehearsals and would be unable to continue after receiving medical advice.
The reality star said she was “heartbroken” to leave the BBC competition before getting the chance to properly begin her Strictly journey.
Bosses have since moved quickly to fill the unexpected gap, confirming that former Love Island winner Amber Davies will replace Dyer and partner professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin for the rest of the series.
Amber has already started rehearsing and is scheduled to make her Strictly debut during the first live show on September 27.
Her first dance will be a waltz.
“This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life,” Amber said after her casting was announced.
“I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger, and to now be part of the show is a dream come true.”
She promised to “give it my all” while also sending Dyer her best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Amber Davies Is No Stranger to TV Competitions
The Strictly ballroom will not be completely unfamiliar territory for Amber, who has already competed in another major television contest.
She appeared on Dancing on Ice in 2024 alongside professional skater Simon Proulx Sénécal, eventually finishing in fifth place.
That series also featured Oti Mabuse on the judging panel alongside Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo, with Johnny Weir temporarily stepping in for Banjo while he was on tour.
Amber’s move to Strictly now creates an unusual television milestone.
She will become the first contestant to have been judged by both Mabuse sisters, with Motsi returning to Strictly alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.
Oti previously spent seven years as a professional on Strictly before leaving in 2022.
During that run, she won the competition twice in consecutive years, first with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and then with Bill Bailey in 2020.
Amber’s addition has also reignited debate among some Strictly viewers because of her extensive performance experience.
Unlike contestants who arrive with little or no formal dance training, Amber has been involved in dance and musical theatre since childhood.
She holds a Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance, studied dance as a GCSE subject and trained at Danceworld Stage School.
She also attended Urdang Academy as a teenager, studying Performing Arts and receiving musical theatre training.
Before becoming widely known through television, Amber also worked as a dancer at London nightclub Cirque Le Soir.
That background has already prompted some viewers to question whether her experience gives her an advantage over less trained contestants.
Her Strictly opportunity also comes during an especially busy period in her career.
Amber was recently announced as the lead in next year’s touring production of Legally Blonde, which is scheduled to begin in February.
For now, however, her immediate focus is Strictly.
With only days to prepare following Emma Willis unexpected exit, Amber will head straight into the first live show with Nikita Kuzmin, beginning a competition journey that came together far faster than she could have expected.
