Amber Davies 'had every right' to make BBC Strictly final amid dance experience row as ITV Love Island co-star comes out swinging

In fact, despite topping the leaderboard a number of times, Ms Davies and Mr Kuzmin found themselves in a handful of dance-offs before making it to the final week.

Ms Davies even addressed the negative reception she was facing from some factions of the Strictly fandom, namely, thanks to her experience within the performing arts world.

The Love Island winner had to urge viewers to be kind ahead of the finale after suffering online abuse for being a trained West End performer.

As a result, BBC viewers opted for the lesser-experienced Karen Carney to be this year's Strictly champion, something Ms Davies took in her stride as she congratulated her soon after.

Speaking to GB News earlier this month and prior to the finale, when the backlash towards Ms Davies was arguably at its peak, fellow former islander Gabby Allen explained why she felt the negativity was unwarranted.

"Oh, my God, she's amazing. And I want to do that show, that's another challenge that I'd love to do," Ms Allen told the People's Channel.

"She's amazing, and you know what? I hope she does win, and of course, obviously, there are people say, 'Oh, she's a dancer before' or things like that.

"But it's doing musical theatre! I come from a musical theatre background as well, and the kind of dance that you do on Strictly is completely different; you don't train in that.

"So as much as you might have rhythm, you might have learned choreography and stuff before, it is a completely different kettle of fish.

"I think she's proven herself to just be insanely talented... I think she's friggin' amazing!"

Ms Allen was speaking to GB News ahead of the release of the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, in which she is one of the new famous recruits put through the wringer.

Drawing parallels between the two shows, Ms Allen went on: "And you know what? It's the same with SAS. Like, there are different dynamics. There are going to be people that are better than others, but that's what makes it a good watch.

"You don't want to watch everybody that's got two left feet. It's Strictly Come Dancing, you want to watch actual dancing as well.

"So I think, there's a place for everybody and I think that Amber has every right to be there and she's amazing."

Turning her attention to SAS: Who Dares Wins, Ms Allen also spilled on exactly why she wanted to take on the physically demanding challenge.

"It was just a bucket list for me, so when it came up, I was like, yes, this is the perfect way for me to really challenge my own fitness ability and mental strength, and also just to showcase myself in a bit of a different way than what people know me as before," she said.

"Obviously, I'm known from Love Island, and you kind of get pigeonholed from that show a little bit.

"I love the show, I'm not taking anything away from it, but it does mean you are not able to really showcase anything other than, you know, one side of you.

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"So to be able to be stripped back and put in such a raw, vulnerable state was like something that I was really willing and wanting to do, and it definitely does that."

But has seeing Ms Davies lead the way for Love Island stars on Strictly encouraged Ms Allen that she may one day want to take to the famous ballroom?

"Yeah, get me in there," she admitted. "I haven't danced for years, though, all I do is lift weights, so I can barely touch my toes! I'd have to get some limbering going on."

She added: "But I would love to do that show. I think it would be another challenge. Come on, let's manifest it, guys, please."

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to stream and watch live, on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm, from January 4 on Channel 4.