BBC Strictly Come Dancing make Amy Dowden announcement minutes into show as star 'cannot wait'

Strictly Come Dancing made an announcement at the start of the show addressing Amy Dowden's absence in the competition. Last week, it was announced that the Welsh professional dancer was having to withdraw from the BBC dance contest due to an injury.

Amy, 34, who had been paired with JLS star JB Gill, was missing from week 7 of the competition and replaced by pro dancer Lauren Oakley after 'falling ill'. But whilst she hoped to be back performing with her partner this week, it was then confirmed that she had sustained a foot injury.

She will now need to rest and recover, and therefore has been forced to quit the competition. It comes with much sadness as Amy had to miss out on competing in 2023 due to undergoing cancer treatment.

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JB will now carry on in the competition alongside Lauren, with Amy cheering them on from the sidelines. Speaking on Strictly's spin-off show It Takes TWO this week, Amy said: "I'm absolutely gutted, unfortunately I have an insufficiency stress fracture, if I've said that right, on my shin. this injury could have happened to anybody. I want to stress it's nothing to do with any previous health scares."

Amy later revealed that watching this week's live show on Saturday (November 9) will be 'tough' as she wanted to mark one year since finishing chemotherapy on the dancefloor.

Whilst on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday (November 7), Amy said: "On Saturday, 9 November, it's a year since I rang the chemo bell and I just had this Samba, the joyful carnival happy dance. The way I'd planned this series, JB has got the most natural body rhythm.

"Saturday is going to be tough because I really wanted to be dancing on that floor to show myself how far I’ve had come in one year."

Giving a nod to the professional dancer, Strictly opened today with an announcement. Host Tess Daly told viewers: "Before we get started, our lovely Amy Dowden has had to withdraw from this year's competition due to injury, so Lauren will be stepping in and dancing with JB for the rest of his time on the show.

Looking into the camera, Claudia Winkleman then said: "Amy, everyone at Strictly is sending you so much love and we cannot wait to see you back on the dance floor very soon."

Fans then took to X to send their love to Amy. @TVqueertiques wrote: "Amy we LOVE you," as @popboy84 said: "Will Miss Amy tonight," and @Rosie12_1994 added: "aww amy."

@orbitsplaza wrote: "Gunna miss Amy but Lauren is a phenomenal dancer so excited to see what her and JB do :D #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing."

@CHEEEKYsausage also said: "If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that Amy Dowden deserves all the luck and happiness in the world We miss youuuuuu!! #Strictly #SCD."