{"id":2071551,"date":"2025-10-06T05:36:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T05:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2071551"},"modified":"2025-10-06T05:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T05:36:30","slug":"strictly-star-takes-dig-at-experienced-celebrities-after-amber-davies-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/strictly-star-takes-dig-at-experienced-celebrities-after-amber-davies-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"Strictly star takes dig at ‘experienced celebrities’ after Amber Davies backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Amber\t<\/div>\n

\t\tStrictly star Amber Davies has become the source of much debate this year (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

A star of Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> has weighed in on the controversy surrounding \u2018experienced\u2019 celebrities on the dance competition.<\/p>\n

This comes as debate rages on surrounding the inclusion of Love Island<\/a> winner and theatre actress Amber Davies<\/a>, who is partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

29-year-old Amber was brought onto the show as a replacement for Dani Dyer, following her drop-out due to injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, some have questioned whether Amber might have an unfair advantage over her fellow contestants<\/a> due to her West End experience.<\/p>\n

Critics have included the wife of England Rugby<\/a> star Chris Robshaw<\/a>, who finished in second to last place last weekend.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Strictly\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n

Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Chris\u2019s professional dance partner, Nadiya Bychkova<\/a>, has now joined the debate, saying that the show should be about \u2018people who have never danced\u2019 at its core.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"For\t<\/div>\n

\t\tAmber Davies has been partnered on this year\u2019s Strictly with Nikita Kuzmin (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"Nadiya\t<\/div>\n

\t\tStrictly professional Nadiya Bychkova has weighed in on the controversy (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

Commenting on how amateur dancers tend to be overshadowed by those with stage experience, Nadiya said: \u2018We often don\u2019t see it because people who don\u2019t have experience would sometimes leave the show earlier, which is really sad as there\u2019s so much talent.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s nice for the audience to see that it\u2019s possible to learn, but you do need to put in the work, which Chris is doing every day.<\/p>\n

Speaking via The Sun<\/a>, she continued: \u2018In this situation, it\u2019s not only Chris, it\u2019s any contestant who didn\u2019t have any experience, not just dance \u2014 it\u2019s any kind of performance experience.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"Chris\t<\/div>\n

\t\tNadiya is competing with Rugby player Chris Robshaw (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

Nadiya went on: \u2018When you\u2019re trained to be in the moment, to tell the story, you know how to show something \u2014 that helps a lot.<\/p>\n

\u2018Chris is taking all the information on board \u2014 he just needs a few more weeks to get to the point.\u2019<\/p>\n

She added: \u2018It\u2019s the experience of knowing how to do that which is completely new and you can\u2019t get overnight.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"Amber\t<\/div>\n

\t\tSome have wondered whether Amber might have an unfair advantage (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Chris\u2019s wife, Camilla Kerslake, described the situation as \u2018unfair.\u2019<\/p>\n

This came in response to former Love Islander Amber Gill, who had written on Instagram<\/a>: \u2018Unpopular opinion: I think having people with so much dance experience is unfair.\u2019<\/p>\n

Camilla then responded: \u2018The experience differences are absolutely wild. Definitely.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"Amber\t<\/div>\n

\t\tAmber will appear in Legally Blonde: The Musical next year (Picture: Instagram)<\/p>\n

In 2019, Amber starred as Judy Bernly in 9 to 5: The Musical, before appearing in Bring It On: The Musical in 2021, Back to the Future: The Musical in 2022, and Pretty Woman in 2023.<\/p>\n

She is currently playing Jordan Baker in the West End and European premiere of The Great Gatsby, and will play Elle Woods in the 2026 UK tour of Legally Blonde: The Musical.<\/p>\n

She has also appeared on Dancing on Ice, competing in season 16 of the show in 2024.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"RETRANSMITTING\t<\/div>\n

\t\tAmber made her Strictly debut on September 20 (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

As news of her casting broke, The Sun<\/a> claimed that her fellow castmates were \u2018furious\u2019 at her inclusion, due to her perceived \u2018advantage\u2019 in the competition. <\/p>\n

An unnamed source told the publication: \u2018All the chatter is they think it\u2019s unfair that the line-up now includes two sensational dancers who have substantial experience on stage.<\/p>\n

Referencing Emmerdale star Lewis Cope \u2013 who previously starred in Billy Elliot: The Musical <\/a>\u2013 they continued: \u2018Having one celeb with that kind of background is one thing, but having two is seen as unfair, particularly if they both ended up in the final.\u2019<\/p>\n

However, a spokesperson for Strictly told Metro.co.uk:<\/strong> We\u2019ve been shown absolutely no evidence to suggest that this story is true, or that the anonymous quote it is based on is from anyone connected to the series.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>\n

\t\tAmber has described her Strictly experience as \u2018a lot harder\u2019 than she\u2019d expected (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n

Amber addressed the issue herself<\/a> during an appearance on spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two, when questioned by host Fleur East.<\/p>\n

Fleur dove straight in, asking: So you\u2019ve obviously had some dance experience before but you\u2019ve never done Latin or ballroom. How much do you think your musicality helped you through the routine?\u2019<\/p>\n

To which Amber responded: \u2018Musicality helped a lot. I can hear the music, I can feel the music but it was the technical aspect, where we didn\u2019t have time to think about heel and toe.\u2019<\/p>\n

She then admitted that she was finding the whole experience harder than she had anticipated.<\/p>\n

\u2018Ballroom and Latin are worlds apart from what I\u2019ve experienced on a west end stage,\u2019 she told Fleur. <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a completely different technique and it\u2019s a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\"Strictly\t<\/div>\n

\t\tStrictly star Oti Mabuse has come to Amber\u2019s defence (Credit: Tik Tok)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Strictly veteran Oti Mabuse has defended Amber<\/a>, revealing via Tik Tok: \u2018I just saw that Amber Davies is doing Strictly. Yes, I am so excited! <\/p>\n

\u2018I definitely do think that Strictly, genuinely from the bottom of their heart, they tried to have a non-dance experience series, where very few of them have dance experience, and it just flipped and it just turned out that a few of them have it.<\/p>\n

\u2018But the ones who have dance experience are genuinely the ones that set the standard, they\u2019re the ones that create those incredible routines.<\/p>\n

\u2018Like Amber, I know her obviously from Love Island, but even more getting to know her from Dancing On Ice\u2026 She\u2019s amazing.<\/p>\n

Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday<\/strong>,\u00a0October 11.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Thomas Skinner voted off Strictly Come Dancing as fans slam \u2018abysmal\u2019 routine<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: I\u2019ve watched all 10 series of The Traitors \u2013 this is the best one<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Thomas Skinner receives crushing blow after \u2018traumatising\u2019 Strictly Come Dancing performance<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now
\n<\/span>
\n\t\t\tComments<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n

TV Newsletter<\/h4>\n

Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n