The BBC and Amber Davies have responded after a wave of backlash accused the Strictly Come Dancing star of “ripping off” choreography from her own West End show during Musicals Week.
The controversy erupted after week 11, which aired on December 6, when Amber, 29, and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, 27, performed a high-energy Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys and Dolls. The routine earned a flawless 40 out of 40 from the judges, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about dances of the series.
However, eagle-eyed viewers quickly claimed some of the moves looked strikingly similar to choreography Amber had previously performed on the West End, where she has built a formidable theatre career following her Love Island win in 2017. Amber has starred in major productions including Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical and, most recently, The Great Gatsby: A New Musical, where she played Jordan Baker at the London Coliseum between April and September.
Addressing the criticism, Amber explained that the similarities were intentional and meant as a playful nod rather than an unfair advantage. Speaking on the Talk of the Townsend podcast, she revealed she had personally asked to include a subtle reference, saying she wanted to add “a little easter egg” because the New Money routine from The Great Gatsby had gone viral on social media. She joked that it would have felt “illegal” not to include it at all.
The BBC also moved to defend the performance, stressing that the dance was newly choreographed for the show. A spokesperson said the routine was created specifically for Strictly Come Dancing and only briefly paid tribute to The Great Gatsby as part of Musicals Week, something that had already been widely discussed online.
Despite the explanation, the routine divided opinion. On social media, some viewers questioned whether Amber should have been given a Charleston at all, pointing out that she had danced the style night after night on the West End stage. Others argued the choice undermined the idea of a level playing field, given her extensive musical theatre training.
Yet the backlash was matched by an outpouring of praise. Fans flooded X with comments hailing the dance as one of the best Charlestons in Strictly history, describing it as explosive, joyous and worthy of a full-scale stage show. Several viewers said they planned to rewatch the routine repeatedly, while others declared Amber and Nikita’s performance “absolutely incredible”.
The debate intensified further after footage circulated online showing Amber performing very similar movements during The Great Gatsby’s New Money number at West End Live in Trafalgar Square in June. The clip reignited claims that she had a clear advantage over her rivals and raised fresh questions about choreography on the BBC show.
A source close to the situation claimed Amber had previously complained about criticism over being a trained dancer, adding that the resurfaced footage appeared to show her reusing professional choreography. Amber, who trained at the prestigious Urdang Academy and was once deemed “overqualified” for Strictly, later addressed the negativity on Instagram, writing that she was “really just trying my best” and suggesting that “the meanies are out to play”.
