Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden sent a special message to her dance partner JB Gill as he prepared to dance without her on Saturday night.
The Welsh dancer, 34, was forced to pull out of this weekend’s show after collapsing backstage last week, with fellow professional Lauren Oakley drafted in as her replacement.
And hours before JLS singer JB, 37, and choreographer Lauren, 33, hit the dance floor, Amy, who is believed to be in remission after battling breast cancer and has Crohn’s disease, reached out to the couple with a heartfelt message of support.
On Instgarm on Saturday, Amy shared a photo of Lauren and JB and wrote in the caption: ‘Wishing these two the best of luck tonight! I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader!’
Addressing her dance partner directly, Amy continued: ‘JB, it says everything how you’ve been able to adapt to a new professional, producing such a great number (so excited for everyone to see it) while supporting me! I’m so lucky! You are a STAR! I know what tonight means to you! Thank you!’
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden sent a special message to her dance partner JB Gill as he prepared to dance without her on Saturday night.
The Welsh dancer, 34, was forced to pull out of this weekend’s show after collapsing backstage last week, and her professional partner Lauren Oakley (pictured with JB) was recruited as her replacement .
The blonde beauty also had kind words for Lauren after she stepped up to temporarily fill in on the show.
Amy shared: ‘Thank you, I knew Jay would be in good hands and have a fabulous time with you! You know I’ve always loved your dancing ever since I ran up to you at Blackpool Tower when I was 8 to tell you! Thanks love!’
To complete her sweet message, Amy also thanked Strictly’s choreographers for “such a brilliant routine”, while sharing her gratitude for the support she has received from fans.
‘Also thank you very much for all the love and support I received last week. Very grateful and certainly helped! Now tune in to the first week of Strictly ICONS!’ she concluded.
JB then responded with his most heartfelt words, writing: ‘you are the best.’ Your faith in me is so uplifting and your fighting spirit is second to none! Thank you for being my biggest champion and I know @laurenmayoakley and I will be PROUD.”
On Friday, Amy appeared on BBC spin-off show It Takes Two alongside JB and Lauren, where she gave fans an update on her health.
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.”
Hours before JLS singer JB, 37, and choreographer Lauren, 33, hit the dance floor, Amy, who is believed to be in remission after battling breast cancer and has the Crohn’s disease, reached out to the couple with a heartfelt message of support.
On Instgarm on Saturday, Amy shared a photo of Lauren and JB and wrote in the caption: ‘Wishing these two the best of luck tonight! I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader!’
JB then responded with his most heartfelt words, writing: ‘you are the best.’ Your faith in me is so uplifting and your fighting spirit is second to none!
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.
Amy was admitted to hospital following a reported collapse at Elstree Studios, the BBC show’s Hertfordshire base, after suffering a “medical emergency” backstage during last Saturday’s live Halloween special.
On Friday, Amy appeared on BBC spin-off show It Takes Two alongside JB and Lauren, where she gave fans an update on her health.
Discussing 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.”
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.
Moments before her hospital run, Amy had performed the Foxtrot from Toploader’s hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her famous partner JB.
But fans noticed that the dancer was partially seated during her last performance.
During the interview, Lauren explained that the three of them have a Whatsapp group and that 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.”
It comes just after JB revealed he’s “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.
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.
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. (…)
‘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.”