West End actress sidesteps hate comments to reach Strictly final
BBCWelsh actress and West End star Amber Davies has reached the Strictly Come Dancing final, overcoming "hateful" comments online suggesting her performing background gave her an advantage.
The former Love Island winner and her professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin beat EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal and her professional partner Julian Callion in Sunday's semi-final dance-off.
Kuzmin said Davies had endured "so much hate" but continued with a "big smile, ignoring everybody and just giving me love".
Commenters online came to Davies' defence, with her former teacher in St Asaph, Denbighshire, calling on viewers to "enjoy the talent and not be nasty".
Davies replaced Dani Dyer, who had to withdraw after breaking her ankle during training.
She won Love Island in 2017 and has since had roles in musical theatre, including in Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical, and The Great Gatsby.
She was also announced as the lead for next year's Legally Blonde musical tour, and competed in the 16th series of Dancing on Ice.
After the pair's performance on Saturday Kuzmin told host Claudia Winkleman that Davies had faced "so much hate every single day from the moment you joined".
"You had so much hate this week and yet you came every single day into the training room with a big smile ignoring everybody and just giving me love," he said.
He added that she was so caring and did not deserve the comments.
"I think sometimes, and I speak to the audience at home, just guys please, just please be kind because it costs nothing.
"You don't deserve none of that," he said turning to Davies.
"All you deserve is love because without you, if you hadn't been here, I wouldn't be here as well and the show would not be as good as it is because you bring so much joy."
Davies has faced "nasty comments" online with some claiming her experience in the West End gave her an advantage over the other celebrity contestants.
The online backlash sparked widespread defence with commenters saying it was "so sad that people can be like that" and "Amber has risen above and truly shone like the star she is".
One commenter on TikTok called Kuzmin's comments on the programme on Saturday "absolutely wonderful", while another called Davies a "lovely person, don't let the haters get you down".
"I adore Amber, I don't understand the hate she's such a sweet lovely girl and beaming with talent," said another.
Others described her as deserving a place in the final, adding the "series would be so much less without her".
Catherine Jones, Amber's school teacher, who worked with her in a school choir and on drama productions called her performance in the semi-finals "amazing".
"It reminded of a Hollywood movie," she said.
Mrs Jones said Davies seemed destined to be a performer, leaving Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph aged 16 to study musical theatre in London.
She disputed claims Davies had a dancing advantage, explaining how none of her training or performances were anywhere near "ballroom dancing level".
She called the negative comments "disturbing".
"It doesn't take a lot to be kind," she said.
"It's an entertainment programme, there is no need to be nasty about people."
Davies and Kuzmin join former England Lionesses footballer Karen Carney and her dance partner Carlos Gu, and social media star George Clarke and his professional partner Alexis Warr in next week's final to compete for the glitterball trophy.
Carney, who topped Saturday's leaderboard with a joint score of 78 for her two dances, has now become the first footballer to reach the show's final.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025's grand final airs at 19:00 GMT on Saturday 20 December on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
