Strictly’s Amy Dowden posts tribute to JB Gill as she’s forced to miss tonight’s show vowing to be ‘biggest cheerleader’
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden has posted a sweet tribute to show partner JB Gill – vowing to be his “cheerleader” during tonight’s live episode.
The JLS hitmaker, 37, will perform a Couple’s Choice routine to a series of Bruno Mars tracks on tonight’s BBC programme – yet he is partnered with Strictly‘s Lauren Oakley due to Amy‘s recent illness.
The Welsh BBC professional, 34, posted a sweet snap showing Lauren and JB to her Instagram page with a lengthy message ahead of Saturday’s Idols Week performance.
Amy, who has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling cancer, posted in her caption: “Wishing these two the absolute best of luck tonight! I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader!
“@jbgill it says everything how you’ve been able to adapt to a new professional, produce such a great number ( so excited for everyone to see) whilst supporting me! I’m so lucky! You’re a STAR! I know what tonight means to you! Thank you!
“@laurenmayoakley thank you, I knew Jay would be in safe hands and have a fabulous time with you! You know I’ve always adored your dancing since I ran up to you in Blackpool tower at eightyears old to tell you! Thank you darling!
“@lizzie.gough you for choreographing such a brilliant routine! LOVE IT! Thank you!”
Amy then turned her attention to her Strictly fans as she wrote: “Also a big thank you for all the love and support I’ve received this past week.
“So grateful and certainly helped!”
“Now tune into the first ever ICONS week on Strictly!”
Strictly Come Dancing bosses this week confirmed JB‘s partner Amy would be replaced both for rehearsals and the live show following her collapse last week.
She missed the results programme last week after she was rushed to hospital.
The medical drama – which happened shortly after the live episode aired – then saw BBC star Lauren, 33, step in as Amy‘s replacement.
NEW DUO
Eyes Wide Shut singer JB opened up on his “surreal” rehearsals with Lauren on Strictly spin off show, It Takes Two, on Friday.
X Factor star JB admitted: “I mean it was surreal obviously.
“Because I am very much used to working with Amy, although there have been times we have had to work with Lauren.
Strictly Amy's cancer 'nightmare'
The Sun's Jamie Downham takes a look at the beloved Strictly star's ups and downs...
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…
“Lauren’s lovely, she’s amazing, she’s an incredible dancer.
“Of course we have been watching her do the group numbers and so on through the series so far.
“For me it was just a case of we’ve got Lizzie [choreographer] and it’s a completely different style of dance as well, so I feel there was less pressure, certainly on Lauren, and on both of us in terms of executing the dance.”
HEALTH LATEST
On the same show, Amy gave a key health update for fans.
She told the show: “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.
Amy also revealed the sweet way the She Makes Me wanna singer and Lauren have supported her through her show break – with the help of a WhatsApp group.