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A Strictly Come Dancing star has defended the BBC after the broadcaster recently faced controversy from irritated fans. Since Love Island star Amber Davies joined the Strictly 2025 lineup to replace Dani Dyer, the BBC has faced backlash from viewers who think that her West End stage career gives her a massive advantage over the other contestants. Over on X/Twitter, one person wrote: "As much as I love Amber, she’s another trained dancer. Yes, I know she’s not trained in ballroom but still has rhythm and dance experience lol," while another person tweeted: "Not really fair, she dances and sings for a living." "Oh, West End actress and trained dancer Amber Davies. That one? Okies," fumed another Strictly fan. However, one previous contestant has spoken out and slammed the reality star's critics as "absolutely ridiculous". Speaking to Daily Star on behalf of Betano , TV legend Vanessa Feltz said: "I love Amber, I think Amber’s wonderful! It’s not her fault she’s a good dancer. I think all this blaming people for being good dancers or professional dancers is absolutely ridiculous." "It’s a dance programme, you’ve got to have a few people that can dance at the beginning otherwise they’ll all be hopping about on the wrong foot. If they were, the programme would be completely unwatchable." "I think Amber is an incredible dancer and I think she’s a great adornment." The former Strictly contestant, who appeared on the show 12 years ago, recalled that "almost everyone" who took part in her season had some kind of previous performance experience: "When I was on it back in 2013, virtually everyone had been to dance school or stage school." "Not everyone but almost everyone, I hadn’t, Tony Jacklin the golfer hadn’t, I think Dave Myers from the Hairy Bikers hadn’t, but I think everyone else had! They’d all either been at ballet school, stage school, that kind of thing." Vanessa said that the show has to have "a certain standard of dancing" and admitted that she doesn't think "there's anything wrong with that at all". Feltz quipped: "I think that’s perfectly fine!" As for the show overall, the This Morning star said thinks the lineup is "very, very good" this year and has enjoyed watching one contestant in particular. She said: "I think Ellie is very sweet, very bouncy, very lovely to watch, very joyful. She’s full of euphoria, excitement and enthusiasm and all those good things. I love seeing her, I think she’s a great person to have on the show." Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
