Overview

• Nikita Kuzmin marked Amber Davies' 29th birthday with flowers and a balloon in rehearsals, a moment she shared before their scheduled Samba to Bam Bam on Saturday night.
• Davies joined the show a day before the first live episode to replace Dani Dyer and opened with a waltz that scored 27, placing her third on the leaderboard.
• Vicky Pattison, partnered with Kai Widdrington, said she is anxious about the dancing but at ease with the show's glam and scored 23 for her week-one foxtrot.
• Ladbrokes has Pattison at 5/1 and among the favourites to win, with coverage noting she sits ahead of West End-trained Davies in the latest prices.
• Former pro Brendan Cole praised Davies’ strong start but predicted she will not win, arguing her Love Island background may limit long-term voter appeal.