Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not be returning to the series this year, according to an official spokesperson. Dowden was hospitalized as a precaution after feeling unwell during the main show two Saturdays ago.
On Monday, the spokesperson announced that Dowden will not come back as she focuses on her recovery following a foot injury. In her absence, fellow dancer Lauren Oakley will take her place, partnering with JB Gill, a singer from JLS.
“The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes,” the spokesperson added.
Oakley performed with Gill last Saturday in a Bruno Mars medley, achieving an impressive score of 39 points, which put them at the top of the leaderboard alongside Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec.
Dowden returned to the Strictly line-up in 2024, having missed the previous series due to her battle with breast cancer. Two Saturdays ago, an ambulance was called to Elstree Studios when she began feeling unwell. The next day, it was confirmed that the ambulance was called as a precaution and that she was now “feeling much better.”
However, in a statement released on Monday, a Strictly 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 health and wellbeing of everyone involved in the show are always prioritized.
Dowden was initially diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 32 years old in May 2023 after discovering a lump just before her honeymoon. Later that year, she faced another health scare but received the all-clear after further tests in August 2024.
In addition to her cancer journey, Dowden has also shared her experiences with Crohn’s disease, a lifelong condition that causes inflammation in parts of the digestive system.
Oakley joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 and was previously partnered with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, finishing in eighth place last season.
Trump’s Tariff Plans: A Day-One Agenda Against Drug and Human Trafficking In a bold move to combat drug and human smuggling, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately after his inauguration on January 20.
Government Unveils “Get Britain Working” Initiative to Combat Unemployment In a bid to rejuvenate the UK job market, the government has introduced its ambitious “Get Britain Working” initiative, promising extensive reforms aimed at reducing the benefits bill and increasing employment.