Amy Dowden QUITS BBC Strictly amid health woes as show issues statement
WATCH HERE: Lauren Oakley dances with JB Gill in Week Seven after Amy Dowden forced to pull out of the show
BBC
Amy Dowden has quit her role on this year's Strictly Come Dancing after having to pull out of last weekend's show due to health concerns.
The Welsh dancer, 34, was absent for all of last year's show as she underwent treatment for cancer and was delighted to be given the okay to return for the 2024 series. Sadly though, she suffered a worrying health issue last week.
Paired with JLS star JB Gill, Dowden had formed a strong partnership with the singer and the two were consistently achieving promising scores from the judges.
The dancer was heartbroken ahead of Week Seven though when she was forced to pull out of the show after collapsing, and it has now been confirmed she won't be returning to the series.
As announced on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, Lauren Oakley, who stepped in last week to dance with Gill, will be permanently taking Dowden's place on the show for the rest of the series.
A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: "Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year."
Lauren Oakley has replaced Amy Dowden on Strictly Come Dancing
BBC
The statement continued: "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."
As Monday's It Takes Two started, host Fleur East shared the unfortunate news, reading the statement before adding: "Sending you all our love Amy, get better soon."
It hasn't been revealed whether or not the foot injury is what sparked Dowden's absence from last weekend's show.
Dowden herself has issued a moving statement where she admitted her heart was "breaking".
She penned: "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 were in 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."
She continued: "It's been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 to.
"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," she added, continuing: "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."
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Amy Dowden has been forced to withdraw from BBC Strictly 2024
BBC
Ending the message, she added: "JB I know you and Lauren will continue to ace that dance floor I'll forever be your biggest cheerleader." (sic)
Responding to the sad news, fans were left "heartbroken" for Dowden.
Taking to X, viewers shared their sadness for the dancer and wished her well in her recovery.
One penned: "Probs too much for her bless. Hope she is doing okay."
"Oh Amy, bless her, thought it was alot just coming back after chemo," another pointed out.
"Amy dowden just doesn’t get a break, my heart bleeds for her, she just wants to be living her best life on the show she loves but life is just so unfair #strictly," a third added.
Someone else shared: "why is the world so cruel to amy dowden i want to wrap her up in bubble wrap and protect her forever."
"I'm devastated for Amy. Get better soon!" another wrote.
Another fan commented: "Amy Dowden has had to drop out of this year’s competition. It’s really sad to see, but hope she gets more time to rest and recuperate before next year #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly #ItTakesTwo." (sic)
Following a tough year, Dowden shared the welcome news that she was cancer free earlier this year.
In February, the Strictly favourite revealed to her Instagram followers she was given the good news that “no evidence” of her breast cancer disease was detected at her latest scan.
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