Strictly’s Amy Dowden has given fans an update following her health scare last week.
The professional dancer, 34, who recently battled breast cancer and has Crohn’s disease, appeared on the BBC spin-off show alongside celebrity partner JB Gill and Lauren Oakley on Friday.
Amy will not be performing at Saturday’s live show, and her professional partner Lauren will step in to dance with the JLS star, 37, in her absence.
The decision was made after Amy was taken to hospital after collapsing backstage on Saturday.
Welcoming her to the show, host Janette Manrara asked her: “I want to start with you, Amy, how are you?”
The professional dancer responded: “Yes, I feel much better and I would just like to thank everyone for all the love and support I have received and my Strictly family.”
Strictly’s Amy Dowden has given fans an update following her health scare last week, as she appeared on the BBC spin-off show alongside JB Gill and Lauren Oakley on Friday.
The professional dancer, 34, will not be performing at Saturday’s live show, with her professional partner Lauren stepping in to dance with the JLS star, 37, in her absence.
Commenting on what this week has been like later in the show, she said: “I’m so proud and so grateful to Lauren – they’ve worked so hard and JB has been so supportive.”
“He’s just down on his knees and they’ve both been messaging me all week.”
Amy seemed to be in great spirits and looked glamorous in a stunning blue two-piece suit.
Lauren explained that the three of them have a Whatsapp group and she and JB have been sending videos to Amy regularly to keep her informed.
Amy chimed in: “I called it Team and a star next door, we’ve been sending videos and messages every day.”
For Icons Week on Saturday, JB and Lauren will dance the couple’s chosen Hip Hop style to a Bruno Mars medley.
Lauren explained: “What was so nice is that this dance, as is the couple’s choice, was choreographed by an external choreographer, Lizzie Gough, so we both arrived on Monday on equal terms.
‘We were both learning the routine so it was really nice to make that progression together and JB is really great. It’s Hip Hop, so I’ve been copying its freshness.’
Amy appeared to be in great spirits as she chatted to presenter Janette Manrara, looking glamorous in a stunning blue two-piece suit.
Discussing what this week has been like later in the show, she gushed: “I’m so proud and so grateful to Lauren; they’ve worked so hard and JB has been so supportive.”
JB admitted that training with Lauren instead of Amy was “surreal” as he is “so used to working with Amy.”
He added: “Lauren is lovely, she’s amazing and of course she’s an amazing dancer.” I’ve been watching her do the group numbers throughout the series so far.
“So for me it was just a case of Lizzie helping us, we also have a completely different style of dance so I feel like there was a little less pressure, certainly on Lauren in terms of execution.” the dance
“It was just a time to let go and live in the moment, enjoy the music, and that’s what it’s all about.”
It comes just after JB revealed he is “learning to adapt” to a different style of dancing with new partner Lauren.
He said learning his latest routine with a new professional has been made a little easier by the fact that he and Lauren, 33, will be dancing Couple’s Choice, meaning there is less routine waiting.
Speaking to OJ Borg during the Scott Mills show on BBC Radio 2, he said: “Well, of course, we’re all different and especially when you work as a couple; Amy is a little bit shorter than Lauren, you know, there are little things and pieces. different for each of them.
“So for me, coming to that and not obviously being a professional, it’s just about having to adapt to the way they dance. (…)
It comes after JB revealed he is “learning to adapt” to a different style of dancing with new partner Lauren Oakley, after she was forced to replace Amy Dowden.
‘The good thing about this week is that I’m making my choice of partner, so it’s not so much about ballroom dancing or working with Latin partners and lifting etc.’ I guess it will be a little more individual, side by side, because this weekend on the show is icon week and we will have the opportunity to express ourselves together.
“So I actually feel like it’s going to be a good way for me to address, obviously, the changes that we’ve had this week.”
JB also revealed that his former dance partner Amy is “taking time to get better,” after it was revealed she would miss the upcoming live show after collapsing backstage during the live show over the weekend. .
He continued: ‘We’ve been able to build an amazing relationship over the last six or seven weeks and it’s been great to go into the training room with her and work on the new routine and, you know, for me, learning different styles, whether it’s ballroom. style or new Latin style, and then watch that process, as it develops, in the show we presented on Saturday night.
‘So not having her at rehearsals this week has been a bit surreal. But you know, the best thing (…) is that it has taken a while to improve. Obviously we wish him all the best as he recovers.”
Icons Week will be JB and Lauren’s first dance together in a live show after the professional star stepped in to replace Amy after the Welsh dancer was forced to take a break from the BBC show after being transferred rushed to the hospital on Saturday night after filming. .
Paramedics were called to the show’s base in Hertfordshire after 9pm on Saturday night following reports of a “medical emergency”.
The JLS star has been given a new professional partner for Icons Week, after Amy (pictured during Saturday’s show) was taken to hospital after collapsing backstage on Saturday.
JB said that learning their latest routine with a new professional has been made a little easier by the fact that they will be dancing a Couple’s Choice, which means there is less routine waiting.
Moments earlier, the dancer had performed the Foxtrot to Toploader hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her famous partner, JLS star JB Gill.
The pair rose to number five in the Strictly rankings after receiving a collective score of 32 from the show’s judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
A statement from Dowden’s spokesperson confirmed: “Amy was not feeling well and so an ambulance was called as a precaution.”
“He feels much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.”
They added: “We request that Amy’s privacy in health matters be kindly respected.”
Amy’s world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with cancer the day after returning home from her honeymoon with her dancer husband Ben Jones in 2023.
Although he hoped to cure it through surgery, two months later, in June, doctors found another type of cancer.
In what became the toughest year of her life, the professional dancer underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and nearly died from sepsis.
Amy, who also battles Crohn’s disease, confirmed she was cancer-free in February.
