Strictly Come Dancing’s Blackpool Week delivered the sparkle the Tower Ballroom deserves, but it also detonated one of the biggest controversies of the series: West End star Amber Davies and partner Gorka Márquez earned the first perfect 40 of 2025 for their Charleston—only for furious viewers to brand it “unfair” and accuse the Love Island winner of “essentially doing her day job.” The backlash has exploded across social media, with thousands demanding the BBC change the rules for professional performers, insisting musical-theatre veterans have an “outrageous advantage.” As #StrictlyFix trends with over 600,000 posts and petitions hit 25,000 signatures overnight, the question on everyone’s lips is simple: should Strictly ban West End stars from competing—or is this just sour grapes from a nation that loves an underdog?

The dance in question was a high-octane Charleston to “Pencil Full of Lead” by Paolo Nutini, set in a dazzling 1920s newsroom. Amber, 28, who has starred in Back to the Future: The Musical, 9 to 5, and Pretty Woman: The Musical, delivered razor-sharp timing, flawless lifts, and Charleston swivels so precise they looked straight off a West End stage. Shirley Ballas called it “the best Charleston I’ve ever seen on this show,” Craig Revel Horwood declared it “perfection personified,” Motsi Mabuse screamed “YES! YES! YES!,” and Anton Du Beke said it was “like watching a Broadway finale.” The paddles slammed down: four 10s. The first perfect score of the series.

But within minutes, the celebration turned to fury. “She’s literally doing what she does for a living!” tweeted one viewer. “How is that fair against people who’ve never danced before?” Another raged: “Amber’s been doing Charleston eight shows a week for years—this isn’t talent, it’s her job!” The complaints flooded Ofcom (over 1,200 in 24 hours) and sparked a petition titled “Stop Casting Professional Dancers on Strictly” that’s now at 28,000 signatures.

Amber isn’t the first theatre star to face the backlash—Layton Williams reached the 2023 final and was slammed for his Everybody’s Talking About Jamie experience, while John Whaite (2021 runner-up) and Ashley Roberts (2018) endured similar “ringer” accusations. Yet Amber’s score of 40—the earliest perfect mark since Series 17—has reignited the debate louder than ever. “It’s not about hating Amber—she’s brilliant,” one viral post read. “It’s about fairness. A beginner can’t compete with someone who’s done this professionally for years.”

The BBC and Strictly bosses have stayed silent, but insiders say producers are “braced for a rule review” in 2026. Head judge Shirley Ballas defended the score on It Takes Two: “Amber trained for this dance exactly like everyone else—six days a week with Gorka. Experience helps, but it doesn’t guarantee a 40.” Craig added: “If we only wanted beginners, we’d call it Strictly Never Danced Before.”

Amber herself addressed the storm on Instagram Live, laughing through tears: “I’ve worked my whole life for this moment—please don’t take it away from me. I’m still learning every day!” Partner Gorka Márquez posted a heartfelt defence: “She’s a theatre actress, not a ballroom dancer. This Charleston was brand new choreography. Proud doesn’t cover it.”

The outrage has split the fandom. Supporters point out Amber started as a complete Latin/ballroom novice, scoring just 19 in Week 1, and praise her work ethic. Detractors counter that muscle memory from eight-show weeks gives an unfair edge. “It’s like putting a chef on Bake Off,” one comment read.

As the series heads into Musicals Week, Amber and Gorka sit joint top of the leaderboard with 40 points. But with public votes now deciding survival, the “day job” row could see her punished at the ballot box. Will the perfect 40 become her peak—or her downfall?

One thing’s certain: Blackpool’s sparkle just got a whole lot stormier.