Lauren Oakley has quit popular social media site X ahead of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing as she begged fans: ‘don’t be mean’. 

The professional dancer, 34, told how she isn’t going to use the site while this year’s series takes place, with the first live show airing on Saturday.

Lauren, who is partnered with football manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, wrote: ‘Live show tomorrow. That’s me deleting X for now, have fun everyone. 

‘Enjoy the show. Don’t be mean. Everyone has feelings and everyone is trying their best. Think before you type. Love.’

Strictly fans have already been expressing outrage about this year’s series after trained dancer Amber Davies joined the cast. 

The West End performer has replaced Love Island star Dani Dyer on the show after she had to bow out due to an ankle injury. 

Lauren Oakley has quit popular social media site X ahead of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing as she begged fans: ‘don’t be mean’

Strictly fans have already been expressing outrage about this year’s series after trained dancer Amber Davies joined the cast

While she may not have long to prepare, Amber has plenty of dance experience behind her. 

The star has a Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance, took dance as a GCSE subject at school, and trained at Danceworld Stage School.

She attended Urdang Academy for the performing arts as a teenager where she trained in musical theatre.

Amber also previously worked as a dancer at London nightclub Cirque Le Soir. 

Just last year, Amber was a contestant on ITV’s Dancing On Ice where she finished in an impressive fifth place with pro skating partner Simon Proulx-Senecal. 

Many Strictly fans were unimpressed wth the signing due to Amber’s past dance experience. 

Taking to social media, they wrote: ‘A trained dancer! This show has lost the plot in every area Needs a total reset.’

‘Wasn’t she on Dancing On Ice?’… ‘Strictly is about journeys on learning how to dance, this is skipping all that.’

Lauren, who is partnered with football manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, wrote: ‘Live show tomorrow. That’s me deleting X for now, have fun everyone’

Lauren told how she isn’t going to use the site while this year’s series takes place, with the first live show airing on Saturday

‘Another dancer? She may play it down but this is her career. I don’t think that’s fair really.’ 

‘She is a trained dancer and was on Dancing On Ice a few years ago. She is too trained for this show.’

Meanwhile, Emmerdale star Lewis Cope is already a seasoned dancer. The actor learned how to dance when he took on a role in Billy Elliott on the West End.

It has also emerged he previously took part on Sky show Got To Dance where he was a member of a troupe called Ruff Diamond. 

The show, hosted by Davina McCall, aimed to find the UK’s next dance superstar and saw contestants perform each week in the hope of winning a cash prize. 

Lewis, with Ruff Diamond, reached the final of the 2013 series and finished in fourth place.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro on Gladiators, also already knows his way around the dance floor.

The Team GB sprinter doesn’t have any professional dance experience but he did take part in the 2024 Strictly Christmas special with Nancy Xu, which will surely give him a leg up when it comes to learning learning the steps in rehearsals.

Many Strictly fans were unimpressed with Amber’s signing due to her past dance experience

With Amber rounding out the cast, a surprisingly large amount of the celebrities on this year’s Strictly already have prior dance experience including Lewis Cope 

EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal revealed she previously ‘dabbled’ in Latin and ballroom dancing as a hobby. 

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: ‘I dabbled a little bit, I did ballroom and Latin as a hobby and really loved it. When you’ve got a passion for something, you’re more inclined to enjoy it.’

Like Amber, RuPaul’s Drag Race star La Voix is an alumni of Urdang Academy and will likely have picked up some dance experience there. 

Dani Dyer also had plenty of dance experience herself, having trained in jazz, tap balet and modern dance when she went to theatre school from ages two to 14. 

In her 2019 autobiography, the Love Island star even admited she would previously put ‘qualified dancer’ on her CV. 

STRICTLY LINEUP 2025

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

Age: 36

Profession: Olympic Sprinter and Gladiator

Harry says: ‘I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.’

Alex Kingston

Age: 62

Profession: Doctor Who actress

The actress teases: ‘My hips don’t lie.’

Balvinder Sopal 

Age: 46

Profession: EastEnders actress

Balvinder says: ‘I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom.’

La Voix 

Age: 45

Profession: Drag performer 

She says: ‘Strictly is a national institution and I can’t wait to get started. All that’s left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here’s hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.’ 

Thomas Skinner 

Age: 34

Profession: Reality star and entrepreneur 

He says: ‘Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!’ 

Vicky Pattison

Age: 37

Profession: Reality TV star

She says: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up… but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified.’ 

Karen Carney  

Age: 38

Profession: Football pundit

She says: ‘I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part.’ 

George Clark

Age: 25 

Profession: YouTuber 

He says:  ‘Never thought I’d say this… but I’m doing Strictly! Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit.’

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Age: 53

Profession: Former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach.

He says: ‘Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.’

Ellie Goldstein  

Age: 23

Profession: Model, influencer and disability ambassador 

She says: ‘It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream’.

Chris Robshaw

Age: 39

Profession: Rugby player

He says: ‘This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad-dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class’.  

Stefan Dennis

Age: 66

Profession: Actor

He says: ‘Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.’

Ross King 

Age: 63

Profession: Showbiz correspondent

He says: ‘I can’t wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes!’

 Lewis Cope

Age: 30

Profession: Actor

He says: ‘I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.’

Amber Davies 

 Age: 28

 Profession: West End star

 She says: ‘This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life. I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger and to now be part of the show is a dream come true.’