The odds for the Strictly Come Dancing winner have been shaken up after Amber Davies was announced as Dani Dyer’s replacement, with pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin dealt a huge blow
Strictly Come Dancing hasn’t even hit the ballroom floor yet, but already the drama has kicked off – and it’s bad news for pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin.
In a shock twist just days before the live shows, former Love Island star Amber Davies has been drafted in to replace Dani Dyer – and the shake-up has caused chaos in the betting markets.
Earlier this week, Dani had to withdraw from the dance show after fracturing her ankle during training. The former Love Island winner had been partnered with Nikita Kuzmin . Following her departure, Amber, who won Love Island the series before Dani, was picked as a replacement.
Bookies have seen the odds swing dramatically since the news broke, with Amber emerging as a strong contender before she’s even laced up her dancing shoes. Online casino provider Slingo has priced her at 5/1 to lift the Glitterball, putting her right up there among the frontrunners.
That means Nikita, who had been tipped as a favourite when paired with Dani, suddenly finds himself on shakier ground. The Ukrainian pro has come agonisingly close to Strictly glory before, and fans thought this could finally be his year. But Amber’s arrival means a much tougher competition ahead.
Still, it might not all be bad news for Nikita. Amber’s huge online following – built up since her Love Island win – could give them an unexpected edge as the series goes on. With millions of fans behind her, she could easily steal votes that might otherwise have gone to rival contestants.
A spokesperson for Slingo explained: “The announcement of Amber Davies stepping in to replace Dani Dyer has caused a major shake-up in the betting markets, with Amber quickly emerging as a strong contender. Now priced at 5/1 to win, she sits just behind frontrunner Lewis Cope at 7/4, and fan favourites Vicky Pattison at 2/1 and George Clarke at 9/2.
“It’s a blow for pro Nikita, who looked poised to finally secure his first ever Glitterball trophy alongside Dani. Partnered with Amber, the odds suggest the road ahead may be more competitive, but her profile brings a different kind of advantage. Since her Love Island win, Amber has built a fiercely loyal online fanbase of millions on Instagram, and that loyalty will be put to the test throughout the series. If her fans rally behind her, it could spell trouble for rivals like George Clarke, whose following is only a fraction of Amber’s.”*
And that’s exactly where things get interesting. While Lewis Cope remains the bookies’ favourite at 7/4, Amber’s addition to the line-up could change the entire shape of the competition. Reality TV favourite Vicky Pattison is close behind at 2/1, with property guru George Clarke at 9/2. But with Amber now sitting on 5/1, it’s clear she’s already rattling the top contenders before the first paso doble.
While Amber’s last-minute addition has injected some unpredictability into the series, the Glitterball is still very much up for grabs. For Nikita, it’s a case of resetting expectations and seeing whether his new partner’s star power can carry them through.
This comes after Dani Dyer shared a message to the Strictly cast ahead of tonight’s live show, after the cast were reported to be ‘furious’ about her replacement, Amber Davies .
Dani has now taken to Instagram to wish the rest of the cast good luck. She wrote on her stories: “Good luck to all the gorgeous cast starting there strictly journey tonight can’t wait to watch you all, so proud & know how hard you’ve all been working.. see you all soon.”
Strictly stars were said to be fuming at the decision to replace Dani with Amber, due to the latter’s extensive dance experience. The 28-year-old has had leading roles in dance heavy musicals such as The Great Gatsby and 9 To 5, and used to work as a dancer at London nightclub Cirque Le Soir.
According to an insider, the other competitors felt it was “unfair” that someone with such training was chosen, especially when another of this year’s replacement castmates, Lewis Cope , also has dance experience.
“The celebs are trying to be good sports about everything and don’t want to let on to show bosses they’re unhappy,” The source told The Sun. “But behind the scenes, all the chatter is they think it’s unfair that the line-up now includes two sensational dancers who have substantial experience on stage. Having one celeb with that kind of background is one thing but having two is seen as unfair, particularly if they both ended up in the final.”
This sense of unhappiness was strongly denied by the BBC , who told the Daily Mail: “We’ve been shown absolutely no evidence to suggest that this story is true, or that the anonymous quote it is based on is from anyone connected to the series.”
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