Strictly dancer Amy Dowden taken to hospital after collapsing backstage

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Paramedics rushed to Elstree Studios following live broadcast



Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden was taken to hospital on Saturday evening after she collapsed backstage following the show’s live broadcast.

Paramedics were rushed to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, after 9pm, following reports of a medical emergency.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care.”

The BBC said the outcome of the results show, recorded on Saturday but broadcast on Sunday evening, would not be affected by the incident involving Ms Dowden.

It would not confirm if she had taken part in the recording of the results show.

The BBC added that the wellbeing of participants was the show’s “number-one” priority and that it has protocols in place for such circumstances.

Ms Dowden’s spokesman said: “Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution.

“She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.

“We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”
Doctors became concerned

Ms Dowden, 34, returned to Strictly Come Dancing in September after a two-year absence following a battle with breast cancer.

The Welsh dancer revealed that she had the disease in May 2023 after discovering a lump in her breast the day before she went on her honeymoon.

She said in February 2024 that she had “no evidence of the disease” following a mastectomy, fertility treatment and chemotherapy, although she was not expected to get the all-clear for five years.

Her return to the programme was thrown into doubt in August after she was rushed back to hospital when doctors became concerned about abnormalities that surfaced during a check-up.

She said at the time that she was “crushed” and had sleepless nights but a consultant eventually said that no cancer was detected.

Following her comeback, she said she was “so happy I could burst”.

Ms Dowden was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 19 and recorded a BBC programme in 2021 about living with the condition.

She joined Strictly in 2017 and was paired with comedian Brian Conley for her first series.

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Amy Dowden's Strictly stand-in confirmed as co-star takes over training



Strictly Come Dancing has called in one of its stand-in professional dancers for JB Gill after Amy Dowden was taken to hospital on Saturday.

Amy, who returned to the show after missing out last year due to cancer treatment, was taken away in an ambulance after feeling unwell before the results show was filmed.

A BBC statement was read out on Monday's Strictly: It Takes Two: "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."

It Takes Two co-host Fleur East also told viewers that she was sending Amy "lots of love" and hoped to see her back on the dance floor "soon".

Earlier, Amy's representative said that she was "feeling much better" and the ambulance call was "a precaution" and Lauren Oakley has stepped in to rehearse with JB today (Monday, October 28).

JB shared a post to his Instagram after the results show, in which he stood alone as the couples' fates were revealed, thanking fans for their support.

"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," he wrote.

"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."

Lauren joined the show in 2022, with her only celebrity partner so far being Krishnan Guru-Murthy in last year's season.

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Amy Dowden makes emotional return to ballroom to support JB Gill



Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden made an emotional return to the ballroom to support her dance partner JB Gill this week.

On tonight's (November 2), which was themed around Icons, the JLS star was temporarily paired with Lauren Oakley after Amy was hospitalised last weekend.

During the live show, however, Amy joined the couples in the 'Clauditorium' to show her support for JB and Lauren, who danced to a Bruno Mars medley.

Speaking after the judges comments, JB said as Amy looked on: "Obviously it's a new partnership, but I've been able to focus on the dancing and just do Amy proud."

Lauren added: "I just wanted to make Amy proud and I hope we did. We had fun out there. I hope you had fun watching."

"I'm so grateful to you, Lauren," Amy told her fellow pro, before recalling a sweet childhood memory.

"I came up to Lauren when I was eight years old at Blackpool Tower, and she just danced and I told her I was her biggest fan," she revealed. "So thank you Lauren, thank you J[B]. I wish I could stay with you, you're amazing."

Claudia Winkleman then assured them that "the scores are for the three of you", before JB and Lauren landed near-perfect marks of 39 from the judges.

Amy, JB and Lauren then all embraced, as Amy was seen getting tearful.

Ahead of the performance, Amy sent JB and Lauren a good luck message, writing on Instagram: "Wishing these two the absolute best of luck tonight! I'm going to be your biggest cheerleader!"

After praising the two, she told fans: "A big thank you for all the love and support I’ve received this past week. So grateful and certainly helped! Now tune into the first ever ICONS week on Strictly!"

Fans can expect Amy to return to the show to train with JB next week.

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Amy Dowden quits this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing



Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden has dropped out of this year’s series following a health scare.

The Welsh professional dancer, who had a mastectomy and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, was taken to hospital from the BBC’s Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire following the live show on Oct 26.

A Strictly spokesman 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 Gill’s dance partner.”

They continued: “The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes.”

The announcement was made on BBC2’s Strictly It Takes Two on Monday evening.

In a statement on Instagram, Dowden said her “heart is breaking” that her journey on this year’s Strictly had been “cut short” by a foot injury.

She said: “I’m so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short.

“My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know only too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing. Something I’ve had to get used to in my life. I’m sure at some point we will dance again JB.”

The 34-year-old previously shared her hopes that 2024 would be “her year” on the show as she hoped to become the first Welsh dancer to win the Glitterball after her struggle with cancer.

The seven-time Strictly star and Gill, who came to fame with JLS, the British boy band, had been sent through to last Saturday’s contest on judges’ and viewers’ votes combined, but Oakley had to take her place as his partner while she remained absent.

Posting on her Instagram, Dowden wished the pair “the absolute best of luck” last weekend and promised to be their “biggest cheerleader”.

Addressing Oakley, she wrote: “Thank you, I knew Jay would be in safe hands and have a fabulous time with you!

“You know I’ve always adored your dancing since I ran up to you in Blackpool tower at 8 years old to tell you! Thank you darling!”