Overview

• Dani Dyer withdrew after an MRI confirmed a fractured ankle sustained in rehearsals, ending her planned pairing with professional Nikita Kuzmin before week one.
• The BBC named Amber Davies as Dyer’s replacement, with Davies describing a whirlwind 24 hours as she prepared to perform a waltz with Kuzmin on the first live show.
• Tonight’s broadcast features all couples performing with no elimination in week one, airing from 6:55pm to 9:35pm on BBC One and iPlayer as the series proceeds on schedule.
• Davies’ West End and televised dance background prompted complaints from some contestants and viewers about a perceived advantage, while many fans countered that ballroom and Latin training is distinct and that late replacements benefit from prior stage experience.
• Bookmakers adjusted markets following the reshuffle, with one firm moving Kuzmin’s chances down the board, as separate reporting highlighted wider reputational worries for the programme and the BBC’s licence-fee retention concerns.