Let me take you straight to the heart of Nashville, to a sticky, neon-lit bar on Honky Tonk Highway, where the air is thick with country music and the scent of cheap whiskey. It’s 3pm, but time barely matters when you’ve been up since dawn interviewing Dolly Parton herself. That was the scene back in 2018, and trust me, it’s burned into my memory like a tattoo.

Amber Davies—yes, the same Amber who once ruled Love Island and now, almost unbelievably, is about to hit the Strictly dance floor with barely a rehearsal—was right there beside me. She didn’t have a West End star’s glow yet, just a wild, infectious energy and a laugh that could turn any sour moment sweet. As we stumbled into that bar, our crew—me, Amber, and her ever-watchful publicist Steve—were running on fumes and adrenaline.

The band on stage was winding down, and a tired-looking singer took the mic, crooning out “Jolene” with a voice that cracked just enough to feel real. Amber’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god, this is my jam!” she shouted over the music, grabbing my arm. I could see the mischief brewing. She didn’t wait for an invitation—drink in hand, she stormed the empty dancefloor, moving with a kind of reckless abandon that made everyone in the bar stop and stare.

“Careful, Amber!” Steve called out, laughing, as she spun around, not spilling a single drop. I found myself thinking, if she can pull off these moves after ten hours of interviews and a river of booze, Strictly’s judges should be worried.

People around us started filming, their phones raised like torches. One woman nearby nudged her friend and whispered, “Isn’t that the Love Island girl?” Someone else shouted, “Go on, Amber! Show ’em how it’s done!” The bartender just shook his head, grinning. “That girl’s got stamina,” he said.

Even I couldn’t help but join her, trying to keep up as she laughed and twirled, her hair flying and her smile wider than the Mississippi. And in that moment, it felt like we were all part of something electric—a glimpse of the grit beneath the glamour.

Later, as we stumbled back onto the strip, Amber caught her breath and turned to me, eyes shining. “You know, I’ve never danced like that before. Maybe I’m ready for anything,” she said, half-joking, half-daring the universe.

Now, as she steps onto the Strictly stage, social media is ablaze. Tweets fly: “Amber’s got moves! #StrictlyBetterWatchOut” and “If she dances like she did in Nashville, it’s game over!” Her fans are rooting for her, and even the skeptics can’t help but wonder.

Looking back, I know what I saw in that Nashville bar wasn’t just dancing—it was resilience, joy, and a little bit of magic. And if Strictly’s judges want to see what Amber Davies is really made of, they should’ve been there that afternoon when the music was loud, the drinks were strong, and the dancefloor was hers alone.