Neil Jones has spoken out publicly about Strictly co-star Amy Dowden's withdrawal from the BBC series after injuring her foot.
Speaking on Tuesday's Morning Live after the news of Dowden's exit was confirmed on Monday's It Takes Two, Jones branded the outcome "really sad".
The decision for Dowden to pull out of this year's competition, in which she'd been partnered with JB Gill, comes days after she had to miss Icons Week after collapsing backstage the week prior.
Gill and Oakley took on a Couple's Choice in Dowden's absence, a routine that earned the JLS star his highest score of the series so far and prompted an emotional reaction from the tearful 34-year-old Welsh dancer who watched from afar.
Both Gill and Oakley dedicated the routine to Dowden while she sparked concern with her reaction to the outcome during Saturday's live show.
On Monday, the BBC confirmed Dowden wouldn't be reuniting with Gill on the dancefloor and while several Strictly stars flooded social media with their well wishes, Jones went one step further on Tuesday morning.
BBC Strictly: Amy Dowden embraced Lauren Oakley and JB Gill following their routine on Saturday
BBC
"It's one of those things that's really sad," he told Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones on Morning Live.
"I heard it on the way as I was coming up. It's always a hard thing as a dancer, especially when you've got a partner, you want to go all the way to the end and when you can't do that, that's really difficult.
"So I really feel for Amy," he added, although was keen to emphasise: "But you know what? Amy is a trooper. I keep saying it.
"She will come back better and stronger. All of us, we're just wishing her all the best health. She'll be back."
BBC Strictly: Neil Jones delivered his thoughts on Amy's withdrawal on Tuesday's Morning Live
BBC
When Jones weighed in to suggest Dowden would still play a pivotal role in Gill and Oakley's preparations, Jones agreed and revealed his co-star's rather surprising and dedicated reaction after she first had to withdraw from last week's show.
"Honestly, she apologised to us all last week that she couldn't be there," Jones confessed. "And we were like, 'Amy, you do not need to apologise'."
Skelton and Jones then agreed that Dowden's commitment all stems from the fact she "lives and breathes Strictly".
As well as the It Takes Two announcement and statement from the BBC, Dowden issued a message of her own addressing her withdrawal from this year's competition.
On Instagram, the pro dancer 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 in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again.
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"My goal since hearing those words, 'You have cancer' was to get back on the Strictly dancefloor.
"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 [the] Strictly family."
Dowden went on to thank Gill for his commitment during their partnership, admitting she was "so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short".
Gill replied to Dowden's statement with the message: "Heartbreaking news @amy_dowden but our moments will be forever in strictly history, never forget that. Thank you for being the best teacher. Nothing but love from all of the Gill family." (sic)
Gill will continue to compete on the BBC dance show with Oakley who, along with Kai Widdrington and Carlos Gu, was initially benched for the 2024 series.
