After Amber Davies was announced as Dani Dyer’s replacement, and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin received a significant blow to the Strictly Come Dancing winner, the odds were drastically changed.
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.
Since the news was made public, the odds have dramatically changed, with Amber emerging as a strong contender before she even has her dancing shoes laced up. Slingo, an online casino, has chosen her at 5 / 1, placing her right in the middle of the pack.
That means Nikita, who had been predicted to win with Dani, suddenly finds himself in a more fragile position. Fans predicted that this could be the Ukrainian pro’s year because he has come so painfully close to Strictly glory. However, Amber’s arrival signifies a much more difficult competition ahead.
Even so, Nikita might not get all the bad news. As the series progresses, Amber’s enormous online following, which she has grown to since winning in Love Island, could give them an unanticipated advantage. With millions of supporters behind her, she could easily snag votes from rival contestants.
Amber Davies’ announcement to replace Dani Dyer has caused a significant shake-up in the betting industry, according to a Slingo spokesman. She currently has a winning odds of 5/1, just behind Lewis Cope, who is currently in contention, and fan favorites Vicky Pattison, who is 2/1, and George Clarke, who are both 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 where things start to become interesting. Amber’s addition to the line-up could alter the way the competition plays out, even though Lewis Cope is still the bookies’ favorite at 7/4. Vicky Pattison, a favorite on reality TV, is a distant second at 2/1, while George Clarke, a property expert, is 9/2. However, Amber is already rattling the top contenders before the first paso doble, with her current rating at 5/1.
The Glitterball is still very much in the series, despite Amber’s last-minute addition adding some unpredictability. It’s about resetting expectations and seeing if Nikita’s new partner’s star power will live up to.
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 since taken to Instagram to wish the cast and crew the best of luck. Good luck to all the gorgeous cast members starting their strictly journey tonight, she wrote in her stories: “We know how hard you’ve all been working.. see you all soon.
Due to Amber’s extensive dance training, Dani’s replacement is said to be causing controversy among Strictly stars. The 28-year-old has previously worked as a dancer at London’s Cirque Le Soir and has appeared in leading roles in dance-heavy musicals like 9 to 5.
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 source told The Sun, “The celebs are trying to be good sports about everything and don’t want to let on that they’re unhappy.” However, all the talk is rifling in the background because they believe it unfair that the lineup now includes two master dancers with extensive stage experience. One celebrity with that kind of background is one thing, but two are seen as unfair, especially if they both made 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.”
Source: Mirror
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