Claudia Winkleman pays heartfelt tribute to Amy Dowden in first BBC Strictly show after withdrawal

Oakley and Gill had performed together last weekend for Icons Week after Dowden initially withdrew temporarily.

This week, Dowden admitted she was "heartbroken" and "gutted" to have to extend her absence and withdraw from the series altogether due to her injury.

The Welsh pro dancer also rubbished speculation that her withdrawal was related to other health concerns after she reportedly collapsed during filming for the show two weeks ago.

Instead, Dowden claimed her injury is an "insufficiency stress fracture, if I've said that right, on my shin", and Winkleman along with co-host Tess Daly were keen to send their well wishes moments into Saturday's Week Eight show.

Daly kicked off the show: "Before we get started, our lovely Amy Dowden has had to withdraw from this year's competition due to injury so Lauren will stepping in and dancing with JB for the rest of his time on the show."

Sharing some heartfelt words to Dowden, Winkleman stepped in: "Amy, everyone at Strictly is sending you so much love.

"And we cannot wait to see you back on this dance floor very soon."

Dowden's castmates all broke into raucous applause, as did the audience in the ballroom.

BBC Strictly bosses confirmed Dowden's withdrawal on November 4, with a statement reading: "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."

On Instagram, Dowden was inundated with support when she released her own heartbroken statement, saying the last few months she started "to feel like me again" after finishing cancer treatment less than a year earlier.

Gill paid tribute to his former partner in a lengthy post earlier this week, saying: "What a wild couple of weeks it’s been but I just want to say how grateful I am to Amy Dowden for everything she’s done as my partner to date.

"We were both SO excited to work together when we found out we were going to be partners earlier this year. We talked and talked and talked in the holding room after we were paired, about life and aspirations and setting the groundwork to our involvement in a fabulous 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

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A post shared by Amy Dowden MBE (@amy_dowden)

"It was like we’d been friends forever and as a friend, it’s been heartbreaking seeing the wonderful journey we’d begun come to a halt.

"That said, I have nothing but admiration for you. Your fight and determination are second to none. Your dedication to your art shines through in your passion for what you love. You would literally give anything to be on that ballroom floor dancing and I feel truly honoured to have shared it with you for 6 weeks.

"Thank you for your patience and support through every week. Thank you for trusting me with your creativity, doing everything in your power to enhance my ability and make it resonate on a Saturday night.

"Thank you for being the best teacher and helping me to fall in love with new styles of dance week after week after week. You are one of life’s special people and although our strictly journey ends here, you will dance again and I know it won’t be the end of our partnership.

"Our memories and moments will forever be in strictly history and I have no doubt you’ll be back, stronger and better than ever. God bless you always." (sic)