Strictly’s Amy Dowden issues health update as she makes TV return after hospital dash
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Amy Dowden issued a fresh health update as she made her TV return after her hospital dash.
The professional dancer appeared on It Takes Two alongside former JLS singer JB Gill and her replacement Lauren Oakley.
Amy, 34, was previously forced to pull out of this week’s show after she was rushed to hospital.
Former professional Janette Manrara welcomed the trio into the studio who put on a united front.
Together, the group were keen to give an update on JB’s progress for his forthcoming Couple’s Choice routine for the anticipated ‘Icons Week’.
Straight away, Amy issued a fresh update on her health before they had even mentioned the upcoming routine on the BBC Two spinoff show.
She admitted: “Yeah, I’m feeling so much better.
“And I’d just like to thank everyone for all the love and support I have received.
“And to my Strictly family, I’m feeling much better.”
An ambulance was called to the set at Elstree Studios after she collapsed backstage.
Although Welsh pro was said to be “doing much better”, BBC bosses confirmed that Lauren Oakley will step in.
A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: “Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well.
“She is delighted that fellow professional dancer, Lauren Oakley, is able to step in for rehearsals and to perform in Saturday’s show for JB Gill’s Couple’s Choice dance.
“We are all hopeful that Amy will be back to dance with JB next week.”
However, Amy revealed that even though she is not going to dance this weekend, she’s still very involved in JB’s rehearsals.
Speaking about her pride she admitted: “Not only did he have a new partner, [he had a] completely new style as well.
“And you know what? I’m just so proud. I’m so grateful to Lauren, but they’ve worked so hard.
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AS Strictly Come Dancing viewers know, you’ll struggle to catch Amy Dowden without a huge smile on her face.
But recently the Welsh star – one the best-rated Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers the UK has ever produced – has suffered a string of “nightmare” blows to her health.
She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May last year and underwent a full mastectomy, before having chemotherapy towards the end of 2023.
However, she later reported docs had found a clot on her lung, telling fans sadly: “Unfortunately I’ve had another nightmare this week.”
Nonetheless, brave Amy, seen here dancing with James Bye, made an epic return to Strictly the following month with an appearance that left many viewers in floods tears.
As 2024 dawned, she admitted: “I feel I was robbed of the year I had planned and reflecting for me makes me upset and angry.”
However, she was soon smiling again. Amy, her hair starting to grow back after her cancer treatment, was seen messing around with her co-stars Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola on the Strictly tour earlier this month.
And despite another spell in hospital in February, she still mustered a cheeriness many would struggle for, telling fans: “The sun is shining – and I certainly can’t wait for Spring.”
And we certainly can’t wait to see you dancing again, Amy…
“JB has been so supportive of me. He has knuckled down and the pair of them have been messaging all week saying ‘we just want to make you proud.'”
Lauren revealed that they had even been sending Amy videos of their rehearsals .
“Yeah I set up a little WhatsApp group and we’ve been sending Amy videos,” she said.
Keen to emphasise her involvement, Amy continued: “I called it ‘team’ – I know you love the word Team – and I put a star next to it.
Yeah, I’m feeling so much better… I’d just like to thank everyone for all the love and support.
Amy Dowden
Adding: “They’ve been sending videos and messages and everything.”
The TV personality has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling stage three breast cancer for almost 18 months.
JB also revealed that it was “surreal” for him having to switch partners midway through the competition.
“It was surreal, obviously, because I’m very much used to working with Amy,” he remarked.
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Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
“There have been times when we’ve had to work with Lauren, and so, you know, Lauren’s Lovely, she’s amazing. She’s an incredible dancer.
“Of course, we’ve been watching her doing the group numbers and so on throughout the series so far.
“And so for me, it was just a case of, ‘Right, we’ve got Lizzie and Kane helping us [choreographers]’,
“We’ve got a completely different style of dance as well. So I felt like there was a little bit less pressure, certainly, on Lauren and on both of us in terms of executing the dance.”
He added: “And it was just a time for us to let go and be in the moment, enjoy the music. And that’s what it’s all about.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.