A Night to Remember: The Impact of Lewis and Amber on Strictly Come Dancing
Tonight, the iconic show Strictly Come Dancing is making its annual trip to Blackpool, and it promises to be one of the most memorable nights in the show’s history. This year’s competition has been elevated by the remarkable performances of two standout dancers—Lewis Cope and Amber Davies. Their contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary, setting a new standard for excellence.
Without Lewis and Amber, this season of Strictly would have looked entirely different. These latecomers are, by far, the best dancers in the competition. They perform at a level that others can only dream of achieving. While both have prior dance experience, their impact on this year’s series has been undeniable.
Lewis, in particular, has made history with a perfect score of 40, an achievement that stands out as one of the best dances I’ve ever seen on Strictly. His Halloween Week routine with partner Katya Jones was mesmerizing—a Couple’s Choice performance set to an eerie cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.” It was as impressive as any West End production, showcasing flawless synchronicity, charisma, and skill. This routine will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the defining moments of the series, alongside other legendary performances like Jay McGuinness’s Tango or Rose Ayling-Ellis’s BAFTA-winning silent symphony.
Outside of Lewis’s stunning routine, another performance that truly captivated me was Karen Carney’s debut Jive. Her unexpected top spot on the leaderboard shocked everyone, and she has been a revelation this season. However, her consistency has been a challenge.
I believe Lewis may not be the only contestant to achieve a perfect 40 tonight. With the electrifying energy of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the grand production, the judges might be more generous with their scores. Meanwhile, Amber and her partner Nikita Kuzmin deserve a perfect score after delivering an absolutely breathtaking Paso Doble to “Dream On” by Aerosmith last week. Despite this, Amber has found herself in the bottom two this series, proving that previous dance training isn’t always an advantage—it can even be a hindrance.
A Favorite Pair: Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe
Personally, I’m rooting for ER star Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe. Their chemistry is my favorite part of the entire series. Every week, Alex seems genuinely surprised by her own performance and the judges’ feedback. I adore them both individually, but together, they are pure gold.
At the very least, Lewis and Amber should make it to the semi-finals, and one of them should definitely reach the final. This year’s final will only feature three couples due to the withdrawal of Neighbours star Stefan Dennis. Even with some average scores, YouTube sensation George Clarke remains the favorite to win. I have a lot of affection for George—his warmth, vulnerability, and the fact that he’s one of the most enjoyable dancers to watch.
Still, without Lewis and Amber, this series wouldn’t have been nearly as exciting. Their presence has kept the competition alive and thrilling. Had neither of them had prior stage experience, they would likely be the favorites to win. Without them, this series could have easily been unremarkable.
Both Lewis and Amber faced significant challenges in gaining public support from the start. They’ve dealt with comments about their previous dance experience, as if seeing world-class dancing in a dance contest is somehow a bad thing. If they hadn’t been on the show, the series would have lacked the excitement and quality that makes Strictly so special.
It’s remarkable that they were only brought in as reserves after Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn and Love Island winner Dani Dyer had to withdraw due to injuries. The public and critics need to move past the idea that celebrities with dance experience shouldn’t be on Strictly. Without them, the show would simply be a local talent show.
A Season of Great Dancers
Of course, there have been great dancers on Strictly without any formal dance or theatre background. For example, 2020 winner Bill Bailey was phenomenal, and last year’s winner Chris McCausland was one of the most memorable champions. But no one in this current series has delivered jaw-dropping routines every week without ever having taken a dance lesson.
Thankfully, we have some of the best talent in Strictly history to keep the excitement alive. I had even picked Dani Dyer as my front-runner before she was injured. I hope she returns next year and proves me right. I’m disappointed that La Voix won’t be competing this week, as it feels like this was the moment she was born for.
Even without the drag queen, this could still be the most exciting Blackpool spectacular yet, thanks to the incredible talents of Lewis and Amber. Instead of dismissing their talent, viewers should keep them in the contest for as long as possible. Otherwise, they’ll quickly miss them.
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