Did Amber Davies copy her Strictly Come Dancing Charleston routine?

Amber Davies performed a new routine on Strictly, which the BBC stated was a deliberate nod to her West End show 'The Great Gatsby' for Musicals Week.

Why was Amber Davies accused of ripping off her Strictly routine?

Viewers noticed similarities between Amber Davies's Charleston on Strictly and a routine she performed in the West End musical 'The Great Gatsby.'

What was Amber Davies's Charleston song on Strictly Come Dancing?

Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin performed their Charleston to 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat' from 'Guys and Dolls' during Strictly's Musicals Week.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Strictly Defends Amber Davies Amid 'Ripped Off' Charleston Claims

Strictly Defends Amber Davies Amid 'Ripped Off' Charleston Claims

15 Dec

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Summary

Amber Davies performed a Charleston on Strictly Come Dancing.
Critics accused Davies of copying a routine from her West End show.
The BBC confirmed the routine was new but a 'nod' to Musicals Week.

Strictly Defends Amber Davies Amid 'Ripped Off' Charleston Claims

Accusations have emerged claiming that Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amber Davies copied a Charleston routine performed on the show from her West End production of 'The Great Gatsby.' Davies and her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, received a perfect score for their Charleston during Musicals Week on December 6. This performance drew criticism from some viewers who noted similarities to Davies's routines in 'The Great Gatsby' earlier in 2025.

Addressing the controversy, Davies stated on a podcast that she had intentionally included a 'little easter egg' referencing the viral choreography from her musical theatre role. She felt it would be fitting given the show's Musicals Week theme. A spokesperson for the BBC corroborated this, clarifying that the Strictly routine was newly choreographed and that the connection to 'The Great Gatsby' was a brief, deliberate tribute rather than plagiarism.