Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden out of Saturday’s show after health scare saw her rushed to hospital over the weekend
Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden is out of this Saturday’s show after a health scare over the weekend saw her rushed to hospital.
The professional dancer is said to be “doing much better”, but she will be replaced by Lauren Oakley who will partner with JLS singer JB Gill in this weekend’s live show.
A Strictly spokesperson said they were “hopeful” Dowden would return for the following show, adding the cast and crew “send her love and wish her well”.
Lauren Oakley partnered with Krishnan Guru-Murthy last year.
Pic: PA
Dowden missed Sunday’s results programme after “feeling unwell” and being taken to Barnet Hospital as a “precaution” and Gill, 37, stood alone to find out whether he would face the dance-off.
The couple avoided the bottom two after their Halloween week foxtrot to Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader.
A Strictly 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.”
Oakley shared a message of support with Dowden on Instagram, saying: “I will look after JB for you this week, I hope we make you proud!”
Dancers Amy Dowden (left) and Dianne Buswell during rehearsals for the new series. Pic: PA
Dowden, from Caerphilly in South Wales, made a full return to the professional line-up this year after she underwent treatment for breast cancer.
It was announced the dancer, who also has Crohn’s disease, would return to the series, having had a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
She was partnered with JLS singer Gill and the pairing has now reached the final 10.
In a statement on Instagram, Gill said: “On behalf of both @amy_dowden and I, 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.”
A number of Strictly professional dancers commented showing their support, including Dianne Buswell, Johannes Radebe, Jowita Przystal and Nancy Xu.
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A spokesperson for Dowden said on Sunday the dancer was “feeling unwell 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,” they added.
“We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”
The BBC said “due to unforeseen circumstances” Dowden was “unable” to take part in Sunday’s results show.
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An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed it was called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.
“An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care,” they added.