West End performer Amber Davies delivered a heartfelt and tearful message of gratitude to her supporters during Saturday night's emotional finale of Strictly Come Dancing. The 29-year-old, who reached the final of the BBC's flagship dance competition, has faced significant criticism throughout the series due to her established theatrical background.
An Emotional Thank You to Supporters
Following her show dance, which earned an impressive score of 39 from the judges, host Claudia Winkleman asked Davies what she would like to say to those who had backed her journey. Visibly moved, the former Love Islander responded, "The feeling of people voting for you is a wild concept and it is such an overwhelming feeling. If you have voted for us and supported us along the way, you're the reason we're here, so I just want to say thank you so much."
She specifically addressed the positive messages received online, adding, "And if you've sent a kind or generous word on social media, we also appreciate that so much, so thank you." Her professional dance partner, Nikita Kuzmin, had earlier alluded to their challenging journey in a pre-recorded video, stating, "We have had a lot of high moments but also lots of lows."
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Confidence
Davies, who survived three nerve-wracking dance-offs, reflected on how those difficult moments shaped her experience. "Being in the dance offs, I'm kind of glad that happened because it was character building for me," she explained. "I've had to be kinder to myself. What Strictly's given me is the space to be a lot more comfortable in myself. It has completely changed me."
The performer also shared a special personal connection to the show, revealing that her best friend, Natalie Parris, is a singer in Dave Arch's band. "I've been so lucky to be able to do this, but the fact I'm doing this with my best friend sat right behind me singing her heart out... I love you Natalie Parris. Superstar!"
A Perfect Score and Gracious Final Words
The evening culminated in a spectacular performance for Davies and Kuzmin. For their third and final dance, a jive to Tina Turner's "Proud Mary", they received a perfect score of 40 from the judges. This mirrored the first time they achieved the top score earlier in the series, which Davies described as the moment she realised "all their hard work was paying off".
Breaking down in tears after her last dance, she told Kuzmin, "It's just been the best experience of my life and dancing with you has been the greatest honour." Remarkably, Davies was a late replacement for an injured contestant, a fact she highlighted: "I have learned so much in four months and I wasn't even supposed to be here."
When asked by Claudia what it would feel like to win, Davies gave a remarkably gracious response, shifting focus to her fellow finalists. "Would it be nice to win, yes? Do you know what would be nicer? For one of my friends picks up that glitterball. I love [fellow finalists]... I feel like I've already won by just being here... One of them deserves it and I'm routing for it."
The Glitterball Trophy was ultimately won by Karen Carney, who was left speechless by her victory. Davies' journey, marked by both public scrutiny and personal triumph, concluded with a powerful message of resilience and gratitude that resonated deeply with the audience.
