BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden forced to quit as show announces JB Gill future

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden won't be taking part in the rest of the competition, it has been announced. The dancer was forced to miss the latest live show with celebrity dance partner JB Gill after "falling ill" the previous weekend.

It was previously revealed that Amy began to feel unwell after her performance with JLS band member JB and was rushed to hospital during the show's Halloween special at the end of last month, forcing her to miss the week six results show.

The 34-year-old then wasn't able to rehearse with JB last and therefore didn't perform during the latest live show on Saturday night (November 2) and Lauren Oakley, who does not have a celebrity pairing on this year's series of the BBC One dance competition, instead stepped.

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She rehearsed with JB before joining him to perform the live couple's choice routine to a Bruno Mars medley during Strictly's first-ever 'Icons Week', which saw the pair bag JB's first 10s of the series, resulting in a near-perfect score of 39 out of a possible 40 points.

But it's now been confirmed that Lauren will continue in the competition with JB as Amy pulls out to focus on her recovery from a foot injury.

The news was announced during Monday night's (November 4) edition of Strictly spin-off It Takes Two. A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: "Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year. Whilst Amy focuses on her recovery following a foot injury, fellow Professional Dancer, Lauren Oakley, will step in as JB’s dance partner."

The spokesperson added: "The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes."

Amy made her return to Strictly this year following a breast cancer diagnosis early last year. She missed out on the 2023 series as she underwent a mastectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy before ringing the bell. She has also opened up about her struggle with Chrohn's Disease in Strictly Amy: Crohn’s And Me, and said that meeting others helped her “accept” her own condition for the “first time ever”.