JB Gill exposes struggles with 'adapting' to Amy Dowden replacement after BBC Strictly withdrawal
Neil Jones says that Amy Dowden will be back on Strictly after hospital dash
BBC
Strictly Come Daning star JB Gill has opened up on how he is feeling about dancing with Lauren Oakely this weekend instead of Amy Dowden.
The Welsh dancer was rushed to hospital last week, with a statement from her spokesman reading: "Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution.
"She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern. We request Amy's privacy in matters of health is kindly respected."
Dowden is yet to break her silence on the incident, leaving fans concerned as to whether she will be able to complete the competition this year.
Due to her sudden illness, it was announced by the show that Oakley would be standing in for the dancer this week, performing their Couple’s Choice to Bruno Mars Medley by Bruno Mars.
Today, Gill joined BBC Radio 2 host OJ Borg to discuss how he was adapting to dancing with Oakley and explained: "Well, of course, everybody’s different.
The couple were meant to perform the Couple's Choice this weekend
BBC
"Especially when you’re doing partner work - Amy’s slightly shorter than Lauren, you know, there are little sort of bits and pieces that are different for each of them.
"So for me coming into that and not, obviously, being a professional, it’s just about having to adapt to how they dance.
"The good thing about this week is that I’m doing my couples choice, so it’s not so much Ballroom hold or Latin partner work and lifts and so on.
"It’s gonna be a bit more, I guess, individual side by side, because it’s icons week this weekend on the show and we’re gonna have a chance to express ourselves together.
Lauren Oakley has been part of the show since 2022
BBC
"So actually, I feel like it’sgonna be a good way for me to, you know, to approach obviously the changes that we’ve had this week."
The JLS star also gave an update on Dowden’s current well-being and noted: "To not have her in rehearsals this week has been a bit surreal.
"But you know, the best thing is that she’s taken some time to get better. We’re obviously wishing her all the best as she recovers."
During the results show, Gill stood alone waiting to be told whether he and Dowden had made it through to Icons week.
Once he was given the good news, he told Claudia Winkleman: "I'm beside myself and Amy, of course, is gonna be so happy that we're through to Icons Week. It's an amazing feeling."
He later took to his Instagram account where he posted an image of the couple’s dance, and captioned the post: "On behalf of both @amy_dowden and I.
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"I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for voting for us and wishing us well.
"We absolutely loved our performance on Saturday night and are SO grateful to be through to another week on @bbcstrictly Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support." (sic)
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