Amber Davies delivered one of the most heartfelt moments of the Strictly Come Dancing final as she broke down in tears while thanking fans for standing by her amid weeks of online backlash.
The 29-year-old West End star, who reached the final alongside Karen Carney and George Clarke, has faced criticism throughout the series due to her theatrical background. But on Saturday night, emotion took over as Amber made it clear just how much the public’s support had meant to her.
Speaking in her VT ahead of the performance, her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin acknowledged the rollercoaster they had been on, admitting they had experienced “lots of high moments but also lots of lows.”
Amber reflected openly on surviving three dance-offs, explaining that the experience forced her to be kinder to herself. She said the dance-offs were “character-building,” adding that Strictly had given her the space to become far more comfortable in her own skin.
After her showdance — which scored an impressive 39 — Amber was asked what she wanted to say to those who had backed her throughout the competition. Fighting back tears, she told viewers that the feeling of people voting for her was overwhelming, adding that the audience’s support was the only reason she and Nikita had made it to the final. She thanked everyone who had voted and sent messages of encouragement, saying she appreciated every kind word more than people could know.
The night was filled with personal milestones. Amber proudly revealed that her best friend Natalie Parris was one of the singers in Dave Arch’s band, describing how special it felt to share the Strictly experience with her closest friend watching and singing just behind her. Calling Natalie a “superstar,” Amber said it made the journey even more emotional.
On the dancefloor, Amber and Nikita delivered some of their strongest routines yet. Their jive earned a perfect 40 — the first of the series for the pair — and their final performance to Tina Turner’s Proud Mary also received full marks, bringing their Strictly journey to an unforgettable close.
Despite the tears, Amber showed nothing but grace when asked about the possibility of winning. She admitted it would be lovely, but said what would be even nicer was seeing one of her friends lift the Glitterball. She spoke warmly about both George and Karen, calling them genuine and kind-hearted, and insisted she already felt like a winner just for reaching the final after joining the show as a late replacement.
As the results were announced, it was Karen Carney who lifted the Glitterball Trophy in an emotional finale. Amber was visibly thrilled for her fellow finalist, applauding and smiling as Karen celebrated her victory — a moment that perfectly captured Amber’s generosity of spirit on a night filled with emotion.
