EXCLUSIVE: Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has shared his thoughts on who could lift the Glitterball Trophy
Sara Baalla Screen Time TV Reporter
16:42, 04 Oct 2025
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has made an unexpected Amber Davies admission.
The popular BBC programme made its return to television screens last weekend for the opening live show, featuring fifteen fresh celebrities stepping onto the dance floor to showcase their inaugural performances in front of judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood.
Unfortunately, Dani Dyer couldn’t make it to the legendary ballroom following an ankle fracture sustained during rehearsals.
She was soon replaced by fellow Love Island champion and West End performer Amber, who entered the contest just days before the opening live show.
After less than twenty-four hours of rehearsal, Amber and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, delivered a graceful Waltz to “When We Were Young” by Adele, earning an impressive 27 points, reports Wales Online.
Amber Davies is partnered with Nikita Kuzmin(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton ‘tipped’ to replace judge after exit remarkREAD MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans ‘already crying’ over Nikita’s birthday surprise for Amber
The duo secured third position on the leaderboard, with viewers and bookmakers already forecasting Amber’s spot in the final.
However, one ex-Strictly professional remains unconvinced that Amber will lift the Glitterball trophy. In conversation with Sky Vegas, Brendan Cole suggested that Amber’s Love Island history might impede her progress in the contest.
Brendan famously featured on Strictly as a professional dancer between 2004 and 2017, during which he partnered with celebrities including Natasha Kaplinsky, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Lisa Snowdon, and Kelly Brook.
On who he believes could triumph in this year’s series, Brendan exclusively revealed: “Karen Carney really stood out for me, and a big part of that is because she’s so likeable. She’s not a trained dancer, but clearly, she’s had some sort of dance training at some point.
“More than that, though, she’s relatable – she’s a footballer, and she’s an inspiration to so many young girls. I’d love my own daughter to watch her and think, ‘Wow, she’s a footballer, I could be a footballer too’. That’s what makes her so appealing.
Brendan Cole was a professional dancer on Strictly from 2004 to 2017(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
“Compare that to someone like Amber Davies, who joined late. She’s great, she’ll do beautifully, but as a Love Island contestant, she might not have the same appeal as a World Cup-winning football player.”
Brendan added: “I don’t mean that in a negative way – I’ve done reality TV myself – but in terms of aspiration, it’s a different story. Who will inspire people at home? Who captures the public’s imagination?”
The dancer went on: “Amber is going to be brilliant. Thrown in at the deep end with just a day or so of training, she still produced a beautiful Waltz.
“The technique wasn’t there yet, but there was a moment when she extended her arms as she leaned back, and you thought, ‘Okay, that’s someone who’s danced before’, someone with a natural understanding of movement. She’s going to be beautiful as the show progresses.”
This weekend, Amber and Nikita will switch to Latin as they perform a Samba to “Bam Bam” by Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran.
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
