Overview

• The BBC confirmed Davies as Dyer’s replacement just hours before the live shows begin, with her debut set for Saturday night on BBC One and iPlayer.
• Nikita Kuzmin stays in the competition as Davies’ partner, while Dyer recovers from a confirmed fractured ankle sustained in rehearsals.
• Executive producer Sarah James sent well wishes to Dyer and signaled hopes of welcoming her back to the ballroom in a future series.
• Davies described the call-up as the “craziest 24 hours” and has already started rehearsals to prepare for the pair’s first-week Waltz.
• Bookmakers reported an immediate odds shift, listing Davies as a strong contender, as fans debated the fairness of her West End experience.