Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden 'doing much better' as show 'hopeful' she will return next week

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Professional dancer Amy Dowden is reportedly "doing much better" following a health scare during the previous Saturday's episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

A representative for the BBC dance programme expressed optimism that the 34 year old Welsh dancer would be back next week, with professional dancer Lauren Oakley set to dance with her celebrity partner, JLS singer JB Gill, in this weekend's live show.

The spokesperson conveyed that the show's cast and crew "send her love and wish her well" after she was absent from Sunday's results show due to feeling unwell. She was taken to Barnet Hospital from the BBC One show's production centre, Elstree Studios, as a precautionary measure.

A Strictly spokesperson stated: "Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well."

"She is thrilled that fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley can 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."

After reading the statement on Strictly sister programme It Takes Two on Monday, presenter Fleur East said: "Sending you lots of love Amy and hope to see you soon."

Gill expressed gratitude to the public for their support following Dowden's health scare.

On Instagram, the JLS star penned: "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."

The couple expressed their joy, taking to social media with the words: "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."

Amy Dowden made an inspirational return to competition this year following her breast cancer treatment, which included both a mastectomy and chemotherapy sessions.

Gill stood solo as Sunday's results were announced.

Their enchanting foxtrot performed to Toploaders 'Dancing In The Moonlight' meant Gill and Dowden avoided facing the dance-off.

"Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution."

shared a representative for Dowden on Sunday.

She expressed gratefulness towards the Strictly cohort saying, "She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern."

The representative also asked that, "We request Amy's privacy in matters of health is kindly respected."

The BBC relayed that due to unexpected events, Dowden couldnt join the results show, which despite being aired on Sunday is actually filmed following the live broadcast.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson detailed the incident: "We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood."

Confirming the response, they added, "An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care."

In a poignant detail, it was revealed how Dowden discovered a lump during her honeymoon last year in the Maldives, shared with her husband, fellow dancer Ben Jones.

She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, and in February joyously shared that she has "no evidence of disease" following her treatment.

Dowden chronicled her journey after witnessing the profound effect of her documentary on Crohn's disease, sharing that it helped her "accept" her own condition for the "first time ever".

The dancer became the face of the BBC show Strictly Amy: Crohn's And Me, where she explored her struggles with the illness and connected with others battling Crohn's to understand their stories.

Crohn's disease, a lifelong ailment causing inflammation in parts of the digestive system, leads to symptoms including stomach pain and cramps, exhaustion and diarrhoea, as detailed on the NHS website.

Amidst the 2022 Strictly live tour, Dowden had to be hospitalised in Manchester when she suffered from an acute episode of Crohn's.

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