'The West End is on ice for now

Love Island winner Amber Davies tells new why she stepped back from her starring role in musical theatre to focus on ITV's Dancing On Ice

Amber Davies admits she turned to former boyfriend Kem Cetinay for advice before taking a break from the West End to compete in this year’s Dancing On Ice.

Amber, 27, has forged a successful career as a musical theatre actress since her victory with Kem on Love Island in 2017.

They split shortly after the reality show and he went on to take part in Dancing On Ice the following year.

“I texted him a couple of times. He just said, ‘It’s all about confidence,’” says Amber.

“I over-complicate things in my mind and I’m a control freak. Kem said, ‘You just need to relax.’”

She will return to our screens for the first time in three years in the show, which will be hosted by Holly Willoughby and new presenter Stephen Mulhern.

“I haven’t been on telly for so many years, I thought that ship had sailed,” Amber reveals. “I don’t feel like opportunities like this to learn a new skill come around often.”

Amber’s new boyfriend, musical star Ben Joyce, will be cheering her on from the sidelines, along with her family. “He’s my number one fan,” she smiles. “He’s amazing. My mum will want to come but will want to watch through her hands!”

The star admits her mum is apprehensive about her stepping on to the rink. “My mum nearly had a heart attack, because when you sign up to a skating show there is danger involved,” she explains. “And with me being on stage every day, I think there were just alarm bells in her head like, ‘Oh my God, this could go terribly wrong.’

“But if you have that narrative throughout life, you’ll never do anything.”