Overview

• Drafted in on around 24 hours' notice after Dani Dyer fractured her ankle in rehearsal, the Love Island winner took Dyer’s place in the week one live show.
• Performing a waltz with partner Nikita Kuzmin, Davies scored 27 as Anton Du Beke gave a six and the other three judges awarded sevens.
• Davies publicly rejected a claim that she had twice been turned down for the show, saying she has never met with the Strictly team.
• The BBC also said the current production team has no record of past rejections, disputing tabloid reports that she was previously considered too experienced.
• Online reaction has been sharply divided, with critics pointing to her Urdang training and West End roles and supporters praising her for learning a routine in roughly a day.