AMY Dowden has been forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing for the rest of the series following her medical emergency.
Amy, who has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling cancer, missed the results programme last week after she was rushed to hospital.
The Welsh pro understands that she needs to take time out and put her health first[/caption]
A statement confirming her departure was read out by Fleur East live on air[/caption]
Fleur shared the news at the start of the show[/caption]
Last week, Strictly confirmed she would be temporarily replaced by Lauren Oakley for both rehearsals and the live show.
It has now been revealed that Amy will not be returning to compete with her celeb partner JB Gill.
A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: “Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year.
“Whilst Amy focuses on her recovery following a foot injury, fellow Professional Dancer, Lauren Oakley, will step in as JB’s dance partner.
“The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes.”
It Takes Two host Fleur East revealed the news live on the spin-off show with the star saying: “Sending you all our love Amy, get well soon.”
The Welsh pro is said to be heartbroken at missing out on the rest of the series, but will be watching and supporting the JLS star from the sidelines.
Amy went on to break her silence with a statement via Instagram in which she said: “My heart is breaking right now. The past few months I finally felt like me again.
“Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up. It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again.
“My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the Strictly dance floor. It’s been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 too.”
She went on to add: “My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know only too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing.
“Something I’ve had to get used to in my life. I’m sure at some point we will dance again JB.”
Her most recent foot injury comes after her fractured foot last November, which occurred whilst rehearsing a dance at home, three days after she finished cancer treatment.
It came after two gruelling rounds of chemotherapy, during which she contracted life-threatening sepsis.
Over the weekend, fans were left in tears as they watched Amy cheer on JB from the clauditorium.
Amy sobbed as Lauren and JB scooped a hugely impressive 39 out of 40 for their routine.
One fan was quick to take to the Strictly forum and wrote: “Amy’s putting on a brave face but she looks crushed. It’s making me cry.”
Amy Dowden’s statement in full
“My heart is breaking right now. The past few months I finally felt like me again. Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up. It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again.
“My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the strictly dance floor. It’s been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 too. Which with my incredible team we got there. Something I wanted to do for myself and loved ones.
“There was no feeling like it dancing again in the ballroom with my strictly family. Then I was partnered with the talented,kind, gentle soul JB. Every day our training room was chilled, hardworking and full of big smiles enjoying what we was creating together with a blossoming friendship.
“JB thank you for being the perfect partner back. We topped the leader board week one and continued to work so hard and thank you for being so passionate about understanding the ballroom and Latin fundamentals.
“For me that rumba will always be one of my favs. I’m so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short. My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know only too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing.
“Something I’ve had to get used to in my life. I’m sure at some point we will dance again JB To all the fans, to my loved ones, my strictly family thank you.
“JB I know you and Lauren will continue to ace that dance floor I’ll forever be your biggest cheerleader.”
On Friday, Amy issued a fresh health update while on It Takes Two.
She told host Janette Manrara: “Yeah, I’m feeling so much better.
“And I’d just like to thank everyone for all the love and support I have received.
“And to my Strictly family, I’m feeling much better.”
An ambulance was called to the set at Elstree Studios after she collapsed backstage.
Although the dancer was said to be “doing much better”, BBC bosses confirmed that Lauren Oakley will step in.
Strictly Amy’s cancer ‘nightmare’
The Sun’s Jamie Downham takes a look at the beloved Strictly star’s ups and downs…
AS Strictly Come Dancing viewers know, you’ll struggle to catch Amy Dowden without a huge smile on her face.
But recently the Welsh star – one the best-rated Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers the UK has ever produced – has suffered a string of “nightmare” blows to her health.
She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May last year and underwent a full mastectomy, before having chemotherapy towards the end of 2023.
However, she later reported docs had found a clot on her lung, telling fans sadly: “Unfortunately I’ve had another nightmare this week.”
Nonetheless, brave Amy, seen here dancing with James Bye, made an epic return to Strictly the following month with an appearance that left many viewers in floods tears.
As 2024 dawned, she admitted: “I feel I was robbed of the year I had planned and reflecting for me makes me upset and angry.”
However, she was soon smiling again. Amy, her hair starting to grow back after her cancer treatment, was seen messing around with her co-stars Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola on the Strictly tour earlier this month.
And despite another spell in hospital in February, she still mustered a cheeriness many would struggle for, telling fans: “The sun is shining – and I certainly can’t wait for Spring.”
And we certainly can’t wait to see you dancing again, Amy…
A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: “Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well.
“She is delighted that fellow professional dancer, Lauren Oakley, is able to step in for rehearsals and to perform in Saturday’s show for JB Gill’s Couple’s Choice dance.
“We are all hopeful that Amy will be back to dance with JB next week.”
However, Amy revealed that even though she is not going to dance this weekend, she’s still very involved in JB’s rehearsals.
Speaking about her pride she admitted: “Not only did he have a new partner, [he had a] completely new style as well.
“And you know what? I’m just so proud. I’m so grateful to Lauren, but they’ve worked so hard.
“JB has been so supportive of me. He has knuckled down and the pair of them have been messaging all week saying ‘we just want to make you proud.’”
Lauren revealed that they had even been sending Amy videos of their rehearsals .
“Yeah I set up a little WhatsApp group and we’ve been sending Amy videos,” she said.
Keen to emphasise her involvement, Amy continued: “I called it ‘team’ – I know you love the word Team – and I put a star next to it.
Adding: “They’ve been sending videos and messages and everything.”
The TV personality has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling stage three breast cancer for almost 18 months.
Strictly 2024 pairings
Here’s who is matched with who this series…
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
JB also revealed that it was “surreal” for him having to switch partners midway through the competition.
“It was surreal, obviously, because I’m very much used to working with Amy,” he remarked.
“There have been times when we’ve had to work with Lauren, and so, you know, Lauren’s Lovely, she’s amazing. She’s an incredible dancer.
“Of course, we’ve been watching her doing the group numbers and so on throughout the series so far.
“And so for me, it was just a case of, ‘Right, we’ve got Lizzie and Kane helping us [choreographers]’,
“We’ve got a completely different style of dance as well. So I felt like there was a little bit less pressure, certainly, on Lauren and on both of us in terms of executing the dance.”
