STRICTLY star Amy Dowden has revealed she’s being supported by JB Gill and Lauren Oakley after her hospital dash.
The Welsh pro, who has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling cancer for almost 18 months, is said to be “doing much better” but will be unable to return this week to Strictly, after collapsing during Saturday night’s show.
The professional dancer appeared on It Takes Two tonight alongside former JLS singer JB and her replacement Lauren.
Amy revealed that they have set up a WhatsApp group to keep her in the loop and share sweet rehearsal updates.
Amy told host Janette Manrara: “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 said: “Yeah I set up a little WhatsApp group and we’ve been sending Amy videos.”
Amy added: “I called it ‘team’ – I know you love the word Team – and I put a star next to it and they’ve been sending videos and messages and everything.
Janette replied: “Aw, this is a lovely trio isn’t it.”
During the chat, Amy issued a fresh update on her health.
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.
“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 .
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…
“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.
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.
“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.”
Here's who is matched with who this series...
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
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
