Amber Davies has faced strong criticism since joining this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing, with some viewers complaining about the Love Island star's theatre training.
Many have said her stage expertise gives the 28-year-old an "unfair advantage" over other contestants.
Ms Davies joined the show with very little notice after being called in to replace Dani Dyer, who fractured her ankle during training and had to pull out of the process just days before the first live show on Saturday, September 27.
Partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, the performer has faced significant online complaints, but she predicted the response before the announcement had been made.
BBC Strictly: Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies received impressive scores on Saturday night | BBCTRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Ms Davies theorised her past training would be a topic of discussion during an interview that took place before her official sign-up to the show.
"I feel like I know they will be like, 'She's trained,'" Ms Davies guessed before clarifying: "Yes, I did train in musical theatre."
Speaking on this week's episode of the Call To Stage podcast, she pointed out: "However, I am a beginner when it comes to ballroom Latin dancing.
"So I feel like I will be starting from scratch. I mean, I'll give it my all."
Amber Davies was brought in as Dani Dyer's replacement | GETTYAddressing viewers, she pleaded: "Please vote for me. Please, I beg."
Ms Davies impressed judges last week with her waltz alongside professional partner Kuzmin, scoring 27 points in Saturday's live show.
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 recently emerged that BBC executives previously turned down Ms 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.
"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.
Amber Davies has faced some criticism from BBC Strictly viewers over her theatre training
|BBC
However, when approached by GB News, a BBC spokesperson stated: “The current Strictly team have no record of this ever taking place.”
While some social media comments express frustration about Ms Davies' past experience, some of them have slammed the way in which fellow contestant Lewis Cope, who also has a dance background, hasn't received the same level of criticism.
LATEST BBC STRICTLY DEVELOPMENTS
- Thomas Skinner issues stern St George’s flag speech as BBC Strictly star rips apart lefty ‘lunatics’
- Amber Davies embroiled in BBC Strictly ‘fix’ row after huge score following last-minute sign-up
- Shirley Ballas sparks BBC Strictly ‘feud’ row as fans blast harsh remarks to Katya Jones: ‘Has a GRUDGE!’
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin appeared on It Takes Two on Monday
|BBC
One wrote on X: "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.