Strictly Come Dancing's Musicals Week sparked a major controversy on Saturday night, as theatre star Amber Davies and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin landed a perfect score of 40 for their Charleston. The achievement left a section of the audience fuming, accusing the West End performer of having an unfair advantage.
The Performance That Caused a Stir
Davies and Kuzmin performed a lively Charleston to 'Sit Down, You're Rocking The Boat' from the classic musical Guys And Dolls. The routine proved a hit with the judging panel, with Anton Du Beke going so far as to say he "wished he could score them 25." The top marks secured their place as frontrunners in the quarter-final.
However, the flawless score immediately drew criticism from a vocal group of viewers at home. Many took to social media to argue that Davies, who recently finished starring in The Great Gatsby in the West End, was essentially "doing her day job." Her extensive professional background includes roles in major productions like Pretty Woman: The Musical, 9 to 5, Back To The Future: The Musical, and the upcoming Legally Blonde.
Viewers Voice Their Discontent Online
The debate raged on Twitter, with fans expressing mixed feelings about the inclusion of stars with significant dance experience. One viewer penned: "Amber just essentially doing her day job. Bound to get a 40." Another added: "I do like Amber but performing in musicals is her day job so a 40 is imminent!!"
A more pointed comment questioned the show's format: "#Strictly can we please get back to having stars who have no dance experience. Its crazy to have someone, as an example, that dances in music theatre competing."
Supporters Rush to Amber's Defence
Not all feedback was negative. Plenty of viewers leapt to Davies's defence, praising her performance and commitment. One supporter tweeted: "God get over it, she’s fab to watch and she deserves to be in the show!" Another called it "the most deserved 40!!!" and urged others to vote for the couple.
Meanwhile, the emotional highlight of the evening belonged to actress Balvinder Sopal. After performing a Viennese Waltz to 'Never Enough' from The Greatest Showman with partner Kai Widdrington, the EastEnders star broke down in tears. Judge Motsi Mabuse rushed from the desk to console her in a touching moment. Sopal later discovered she had achieved her highest score of the series – a respectable 35 points.
In another memorable segment, presenter George Clarke, who had previously admitted to "hating" musicals, was stunned when composer Andrew Lloyd Webber appeared via video message after his Argentine Tango to music from The Phantom of the Opera. The 77-year-old musical legend, in character as the Phantom, urged Clarke to complete his "conversion to musicals." A smiling Clarke later confirmed to co-host Claudia Winkleman that the message had indeed changed his mind.
