West End star Amber Davies broke down in tears during a television appearance this week, emotionally declaring that the 'Strictly bubble has burst' as the final of the hit BBC dance competition approaches.
An Emotional Final Week Admission
The 29-year-old performer, who secured her place in this Saturday's grand finale (December 16) after winning a tense dance-off against actress Balvinder Sopal, struggled to contain her feelings on BBC Two's It Takes Two on Tuesday. Speaking to host Fleur East, Davies reflected on her unexpected journey from a last-minute phone call to the final.
'It makes me wanna cry, honestly. I can't believe I'm here,' she admitted. 'I had this random phone call on a Wednesday night, to being in the final and having the best 12 weeks of my life.' As her emotions overwhelmed her, she added: 'I'm just over the moon. I don't want it to be over.'
Her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, 25, handed her a box of tissues as she dabbed her eyes before breaking down again. Davies expressed her determination to cherish the final days with Kuzmin, stating her alarm clock prompted a jump out of bed because it was their 'last Tuesday' of rehearsals.
'The Strictly bubble is bursting, it came into my life with a vengeance and now it feels like it's leaving just as quickly,' she confessed. 'I have loved every single second of it and I'm gonna miss it so much. I'm mourning it now!'
Addressing the Charleston Controversy
The emotional interview follows a week where both Davies and the BBC responded to significant viewer backlash. Earlier this month, during Musicals Week, Davies and Kuzmin performed a Charleston to Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat from Guys and Dolls, which earned a perfect score of 40.
However, some critics accused Davies of 'ripping off' a routine from her recent West End role. The actress, who shot to fame on Love Island in 2017, starred as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby: A New Musical at the London Coliseum between April and September this year.
Footage emerged showing similarities between her Strictly Charleston and a dance number from the West End production. In response, Davies explained on the Talk of the Townsend podcast that the inclusion was a deliberate and approved nod to her theatrical work.
'I asked if I could just put a little easter egg because obviously the new money routine went viral on social media,' she said. 'So I just thought it would be like, illegal, for me to not at least put [it in].' A BBC spokesperson supported this, telling the Daily Mail: 'This was a new routine choreographed for Strictly Come Dancing, which - as already discussed online - briefly paid tribute to The Great Gatsby as a nod to Musicals Week.'
The Road to the Glitterball
Davies, a trained dancer from London's prestigious Urdang Academy, was a late addition to the Strictly lineup after Dani Dyer withdrew with an injury. Her background has led to ongoing discussions about her experience level compared to other contestants, a point she has addressed on social media, writing: 'I'm really just trying my best... The meanies are out to play.'
Despite the controversy, her focus remains on the final showdown this Saturday night. She and Kuzmin will compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy, hoping to cap off an emotional and whirlwind journey on the nation's favourite dance floor.
Strictly Come Dancing's grand finale airs on Saturday, December 16 on BBC One and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
