West End performer Amber Davies has found herself at the centre of a Strictly Come Dancing controversy after stepping in as a last-minute replacement on short notice.
The 28-year-old former Love Island winner joined the programme after Dani Dyer fractured her ankle during rehearsals and was forced to withdraw.
Ms Davies impressed judges with her waltz alongside professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, scoring 27 points in Saturday's live show.
However, her participation has sparked fierce debate about fairness, with fellow contestants reportedly furious about her extensive dance background.
BBC Strictly: Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies received impressive scores on Saturday night
|BBC
The Welsh actress graduated from The Urdang Academy with a professional diploma in musical theatre and has starred in numerous West End productions including The Great Gatsby, Pretty Woman and Back to the Future.
Fresh allegations have emerged that BBC executives previously turned down Davies for the programme on two separate occasions due to her professional training.
It is understood programme bosses met with the performer but decided she possessed too much dancing experience for a show designed to showcase celebrities learning from scratch.
A source close to the production revealed to The Mail On Sunday: "There have been talks with Amber twice before but the view was that she was too experienced and that wasn't what the show is about.
BBC Strictly: The judges applauded Amber Davies' dancing
| BBC"Bosses know viewers enjoy watching a Strictly journey. There would have been no journey with Amber because she was so amazing."
The meetings are believed to have taken place after Ms Davies had already established herself in London's theatre scene, having performed throughout 2019 in 9 To 5: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.
However, when approached by GB News, a BBC spokesperson stated: “The current Strictly team have no record of this ever taking place.”
Social media users have expressed sharply divided views about Davies joining the competition.
One viewer posted on X: "Amber who's a trained dancer joining #Strictly with just 24 hours notice is a mistake, not for her but for the show, scoring 27 highlights that a 'dancer' can just go & do a dance whereas a novice would be nowhere near that level with little training #StrictlyComeDancing."
Another wrote: "Amber knows how to hold herself, have floaty arms and hands, how to use her legs properly and point her toes, she knows how to use core strength and can pick up choreography with a click of your fingers.
"That is a MASSIVE advantage over someone who hasn't danced before. #Strictly".
"LEWIS AND AMBER HAVE PROFESSIONAL DANCE EXPERIENCE don’t fall for it!!!! #Strictly," another penned.
Someone else argued: "Fundamentally they shouldn't be allowed to participate or their score should take into account that they aren't beginners.
"It's easier to teach someone who has been exposed to dance and choreography than a complete novice."
BBC Strictly: Some fans blasted the show for signing up Amber, who has some dance experience
|BBC
However, some slammed the way in which fellow contestant Lewis Cope, who also has a dance background, hasn't received the same level of criticism.
One wrote: "The way I’ve already seen hate for Amber having dance experience and she’s been here 24h but seen none for Lewis… Strictly viewers are never beating the misogyny allegations."
Supporters also defended Ms Davies' achievement, with one posting: "Strictly needed someone who could come in quickly and nail a routine.
Amber Davies was brought in as Dani Dyer's replacement
| GETTY"Of course they were going to choose someone who had dance experience. Huge week for Amber with Legally Blonde too. Massive respect to her #Strictly."
"I know she’s a ringer but Amber did really well! Even if she was dancing how she was trained to, learning a routine in 24hrs is impressive. #strictly," a second agreed. (sic)
Davies' theatrical credentials include her 2019 West End debut as Judy Bernly in 9 to 5: The Musical, followed by roles in Bring It On: The Musical and Pretty Woman: The Musical.
She portrayed Lorraine Baines McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical, where she met her current boyfriend Ben Joyce, and recently concluded a run as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum.