Strictly’s JB Gill shares behind the scenes glimpse of training before Amy Dowden collapsed as fan fears grow
STRICTLY celeb JB Gill has given fans a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes training he undertook with Amy before she collapsed.
The JLS singer took to his Instagram to show the pair practising their Foxtrot for Toploader’s Dancing in the Moonlight.
They performed the dance – part of the Halloween special – during the show last Saturday.
Later that night Amy fell ill and an ambulance was called, with paramedics attending alongside fire crews.
He captioned his post with: “This week was bittersweet! Despite the ups and downs, grateful to be through to another week.”
Fans were quick to comment with one saying: “This time must be heart-wrenching for the wonderful Amy she has fought back from so much adversity to be part of Strictly 24.”
Another upset fan said: “I can’t imagine how tough this week is for you and @amy_dowden, you’ll do her proud. Wishing her a speedy recovery.”
The presenter and farmer has been left upset after his dance partner was absent from Sunday’s shows.
The pro has been battling Stage three breast cancer for the last 18 months, revealing her diagnosis in May 2022.
The dancer, who also suffers from Crohn’s disease, finished her chemotherapy in November 2022 before joining the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing, much to her fans delight.
Since her collapse, however, many expressed their concern she had come back too soon, with fan fears growing since she hasn’t commented on any of her social media accounts.
Following her scare The Sun revealed that dancer Lauren Oakley was replacing Amy, stepping in to train with JB while the dancer recovers.
JB has said that training for this weekend’s shows without Amy was ‘surreal.’
Speaking on the BBC Radio 2 programme Scott Mills, hosted by OJ Borg on Thursday, he said of Amy: “We’ve been able to build an incredible rapport over the last six, seven weeks and it’s been great going to the training room with her and working on the new routine.”
“For me, learning different styles – whether it’s a ballroom style or new Latin style – and then watching that process sort of as it builds into the show that we put on, on the Saturday night.”
He continued: “So to not have her in rehearsals this week has been a bit surreal. But the best thing is that she’s taken some time to get better.”
Speaking about this weekend’s shows, where he will be performing a Couple’s Choice dance to a Bruno Mars medley during Icons week with new partner Lauran, he said: “It’s gonna be a bit more, I guess, individual side by side, because it’s icons week this week on the show and we’re gonna have a chance to express ourselves together.”
“So actually, I feel like it’s gonna be a good way for me to, you know, to approach obviously the changes that we’ve had this week.”