Amber Davies: Strictly Come Dancing 2025 journey, age, husband, and the controversy explained

When Amber Davies walked onto the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 dance floor, she carried a decade of performing experience with her. The Welsh actress, best known for winning Love Island in 2017, entered the competition as a late replacement for Dani Dyer and quickly became one of the most talked-about contestants of the series. Her journey was defined by stellar performances, a dedicated fanbase, and a persistent undercurrent of online criticism. By the time the final credits rolled, Davies had not only secured her place as a finalist but had also ignited a broader conversation about prior experience in the ballroom.

Her participation in the BBC show was always going to be scrutinised. Before her first dance, she was already a familiar face in London’s West End, having starred in major musicals such as Legally Blonde and 9 to 5. This professional background became the central talking point of her time on Strictly, with critics arguing she held an unfair advantage over her less experienced peers. Despite the noise, Davies focused on her performances, pairing with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin to reach the grand final. She ultimately finished as a runner-up, a result that solidified her status as a resilient and capable performer.

• Amber Davies’ transition from reality TV (Love Island) to legitimate theatre (West End) is a career highlight.
• The online hate she received during Strictly aligns with patterns of trolling against female reality stars.
• Despite not winning Strictly, she gained significant exposure and audience support.
• Her role in Legally Blonde the Musical boosted her profile as a triple-threat performer.
• She entered Strictly as a late replacement for Dani Dyer.
• She actively worked to block out the backlash and focus on the competition.

Is Amber Davies Married? Husband and Relationship Status

Despite persistent search queries and occasional rumours, credible reports do not confirm a husband for Amber Davies. She is publicly known to be in a long-term relationship with Ben Joyce, a musical-theatre actor she reportedly met in 2022 while both were working on Back to the Future: The Musical in London’s West End. Multiple entertainment outlets noted the couple were still together in 2025, though neither Davies nor Joyce has made an official public statement about their marital status. This absence of confirmation has left some room for public curiosity, but no verified source currently identifies a spouse.

Why Is Amber Davies Hated? Understanding the Controversy

The backlash against Amber Davies during Strictly centred on her extensive musical-theatre training. Critics argued that her professional dance experience gave her an unfair advantage over contestants with less performance history. Reports from the period indicate she faced a significant volume of online hate, with accusations ranging from perceived favouritism by the judges to claims that she copied choreography from her West End roles for use on the show. The scrutiny intensified following her late entry into the competition, replacing Dani Dyer only days before the series began.

Davies addressed the negativity directly in interviews, stating she was “blocking out” the criticism and concentrating on her performances. Her response was measured, but the situation highlighted the intense public scrutiny often placed on female contestants who arrive with prior performance experience. This pattern of online trolling is not unique to Davies, but the scale of the campaign against her became a notable subplot of the 2025 series.

Amber Davies on Strictly Come Dancing 2025: Journey, Partner and Final

Amber Davies joined the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 cast as a late replacement, a development that added an extra layer of attention to her appearances. She was partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, and the pairing quickly demonstrated strong chemistry on the dance floor. Throughout the season, they delivered a series of consistent performances that earned them high scores from the judges and steady support from the viewing public. Their journey culminated in a place in the grand final, where they performed a showdance that showcased Davies’ technical skill and emotional range.

Despite the external controversies, Davies and Kuzmin maintained their focus. Their presence in the final was a testament to Davies’ resilience as a performer and her ability to separate the noise from the competition. She ultimately finished as the runner-up, narrowly missing out on the trophy but gaining a new wave of respect from audiences who appreciated her professionalism under pressure. Her time on Amber Strictly hate comments showed how she navigated the intense spotlight.

Amber Davies’ Theatre Career: From Legally Blonde to West End

Long before Strictly, Davies had established herself as a credible stage performer, a career pivot that surprised many who knew her only from Love Island. Her transition into musical theatre was deliberate, and she secured roles in several major West End productions that showcased her singing, dancing, and acting abilities. Her most prominent role came in 2022 when she starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical, a performance that earned critical acclaim and solidified her status as a triple-threat entertainer. She also appeared in 9 to 5: The Musical, Pretty Woman: The Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical, and The Great Gatsby.

This professional experience became a double-edged sword during Strictly. While it gave her the technical foundation to perform at a high level, it also made her a target for criticism from viewers who felt the competition should favour amateurs. Davies acknowledged the irony in interviews, noting that the same skills that drew criticism on Strictly had allowed her to build a sustainable career in theatre. Her track record is notable when compared to other Love Island winners, many of whom have not sustained the same level of professional longevity in the performing arts.

Timeline of Amber Davies’ Career and Strictly 2025

1. 1996 – Born in Denbigh, Wales.
2. 2017 – Winner of Love Island (series 3).
3. 2018 – Began acting in West End productions (9 to 5: The Musical).
4. 2022 – Starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical (West End).
5. 2025 – Announced as contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
6. 2025 (Dec) – Reached final of Strictly, finishing as runner-up.

Certainties and Unclarified Details

Context: Reality TV, West End, and Public Scrutiny

Amber Davies represents a modern entertainment career path that few manage successfully: launching on reality TV before pivoting to traditional stage and screen. Her Strictly participation arrived at a time when the show faced its own conversations about casting experienced performers. The backlash she experienced serves as a case study in the paradoxes of public expectation. While her extensive training was a liability on Strictly, it is exactly that skill set that has allowed her to build a sustainable career in the competitive world of musical theatre. Compared to other Amber Davies Strictly Come Dancing 2025 finalist, she has sustained a longer, more versatile career in theatre.

The public’s reaction to Davies also underscores broader cultural tensions around reality TV fame and professional legitimacy. Her ability to bridge those worlds, while maintaining her composure under fire, positions her as a notable figure in the current entertainment landscape. As the conversation around casting and fairness in competition shows continues, Davies’ experience offers a compelling example of how prior training can be both an asset and a target.

Sources and Key Statements

Amber Davies is an Actor, Podcaster and TV Personality best known for winning Love Island in 2017, starring in West End productions of 9 to 5: The Musical and more.

— BBC Strictly profile

Amber Davies is an actress and performer, who has carved out an impressive career across London’s West End and beyond.

— RadioTimes, December 2025

Summary: What’s Next for Amber Davies?

Having navigated the intensity of Strictly and the associated controversy, Amber Davies is well-positioned for her next chapter. Potential paths include a return to the West End, pursuing television acting roles, or expanding her work as a podcaster. Her journey from Love Island winner to Strictly finalist demonstrates a notable capacity for career reinvention. While the online hate she faced during the competition was undeniably challenging, it did not derail her performances, and she emerged from the series with her reputation as a dedicated performer largely intact. The skills that drew criticism on Strictly—her professional training, her discipline, and her stage presence—remain the tools she will use to shape whatever comes next.

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