STRICTLY Come Dancing is back for series 23 with the full celeb and pro line-up confirmed.
But there’s been late drama in the ballroom after two stars pulled out, and one high-profile replacement has just been revealed.
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Who dropped out of Strictly 2025?
Two celebrities have withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing 2025: Dani Dyer and Kristian Nairn.
Both exits were confirmed ahead of the first live show, prompting last‑minute changes to the line-up.
Dani stepped away this week after sustaining an ankle fracture in rehearsals.
Dani Dyer withdrew on September 24 after fracturing her ankle during training.
She had been paired with fan‑favourite pro Nikita Kuzmin and was due to hit the floor on the series’ opening live show.
The injury ruled her out of the competition.
The show has now confirmed a replacement, so the pairing can still take part.
Who is replacing Dani Dyer on Strictly?
West End star Amber Davies has been drafted in as a late replacement for Dani.
Her casting was announced on September 26, just ahead of the first live show.
Amber will now partner with Nikita Kuzmin. The pair will make their debut with a waltz on Saturday, September 27.
Who is Amber Davies?
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Amber Davies is a Welsh performer who won Love Island in 2017 and has since built a successful musical theatre career.
She has appeared in major stage productions, including 9 to 5: The Musical, Pretty Woman: The Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical, and The Great Gatsby.
On TV, she was a semi‑finalist on Dancing on Ice in 2024.
Looking ahead, she’s set to lead the UK and Ireland tour of Legally Blonde in 2026 as Elle Woods.
She also presents the documentary Amber and Dolly: 9 to 5 and hosts the theatre podcast Call To Stage.
Why did Kristian Nairn leave Strictly?
Kristian Nairn, best known as Hodor in Game of Thrones, stepped back from the series on August 21 for medical reasons.
He said he was “deeply sorry” to disappoint viewers and explained he’d experienced a spike in his vitals following a period of stress and grief, and doctors advised him not to continue training.
He told fans he is under treatment and expects to recover within a few weeks, but didn’t want to leave the show or his fellow contestants in limbo.
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BBC executive producer Sarah James wished him a speedy recovery and said the team was “incredibly sorry” to lose him this year.
Who replaced Kristian Nairn?
Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope has joined the lineup in Kristian’s place.
He has been paired with professional dancer Katya Jones and entered the competition at short notice after receiving the call while walking down Oxford Street.
Lewis said the last‑minute nature of the invite helped him dive straight in without overthinking it.
He’s keen to impress head judge Shirley Ballas by nailing the technique week by week.
Who is Lewis Cope?
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Lewis Cope, 30, is an actor and dancer from Hartlepool.
He’s best known for playing Nicky Milligan on Emmerdale from 2022 to 2024, a role that earned him a 2023 National Television Awards Rising Star nomination.
He began his career at a young age, appearing in the West End production of Billy Elliot at the age of 11.
As a teenager, he danced with hip‑hop troupe Ruff Diamond, finishing runners‑up on Sky One’s Got to Dance in 2013 and representing the UK at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships.
He later left the group in 2015 to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
His screen credits include Mrs Sidhu Investigates, Vera, and Hetty Feather, and he has appeared on stage in Witness for the Prosecution.
What are full Strictly 2025 pairings?
- Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe
- Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
- Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova
- Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Lewis Cope and Katya Jones
- Ross King and Jowita Przystał
- Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell
- Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden
- Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
- Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin
Amber Davies and Lewis Cope have both joined the series as late additions, replacing Dani Dyer and Kristian Nairn, respectively.
When is the first live show?
The first live show is on Saturday, September 27.
Amber and Nikita are set to perform a waltz on their debut, with Lewis and Katya also taking to the floor after his fast‑tracked training.
