Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden was visibly emotional as she revealed her heartbreak over her departure from the BBC show. The professional dancer, aged 34, appeared on Wednesday’s episode of It Takes Two, where she shared her feelings following her exit earlier in the week. Amy expressed her sadness at having to leave the series due to a foot injury, describing her heart as “breaking” over the situation. This emotional moment came after Amy’s return to the show for its 20th anniversary series, having missed out the previous year due to undergoing treatment for stage three breast cancer. In a positive update earlier this year, Amy shared that tests had shown she was free of disease.
During her appearance on It Takes Two, Amy tearfully explained the circumstances of her exit, revealing that she had an insufficiency stress fracture on her shin that required her to rest for a couple of weeks. She expressed her disappointment at not being able to continue dancing with her celebrity partner, JLS star JB Gill, who will now be paired with fellow pro Lauren Oakley. Despite her sorrow, Amy remained hopeful that she might be able to return to dance a group number by the end of the series. The emotional interview also saw Amy being comforted by host Janette Manrara as she expressed her heartbreak at having to step away from the Strictly family.
Amy’s heartfelt message extended beyond the show, as she took to Instagram to share her emotions and gratitude. In a post, she described how she had felt like herself again in the past few months, focusing on choreography rather than cancer. Amy reminisced about her journey back to the dance floor, highlighting the challenges she had overcome and the joy of dancing with her Strictly family. She commended her dance partner JB Gill for his support and described their training room as a place filled with hard work and friendship.
JB Gill also took the opportunity to send a touching message to Amy during the show, praising her as a wonderful teacher and a beautiful soul. The pair had shown promise in the competition, receiving positive feedback from the judges. Despite the setback, Amy expressed her determination to return to dancing and conveyed her support for JB and Lauren, who will continue to compete in her absence.
In response to Amy’s departure, a spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing confirmed that she would not be participating in the rest of the competition to focus on her recovery. Lauren Oakley will step in as JB’s new dance partner, with the show emphasizing the importance of the health and wellbeing of all involved. The Strictly family sent their love and well wishes to Amy as she begins her recovery journey.
As fans await the next episode of Strictly Come Dancing, they can expect to see the remaining contestants continue to compete for the coveted glitterball trophy. The show will go on, and Amy’s resilience and positive spirit serve as an inspiration to all, reminding us to persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks.