BBC Strictly Come Dancing cast vow to 'look after' star as dancer pulls out midway through series

BBC pro dancer has spoken out as she steps into the void and replaces the ill Amy on this weekend's coming live show.
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Amy Dowden’s Strictly Come Dancing replacement Lauren Oakley has broken her silence and made JB Gill a heartfelt promise. The BBC pro dancer has spoken out as she steps into the void and replaces the ill Amy on this weekend's coming live show.

Resharing the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing statement about her replacement, Lauren added: "Sending you so much love and well wishes @amy_dowden. Hope you're back on the dance floor as soon as possible!

"I will look after @jbgill for you this week, I hope we make you proud!" Lauren - who joined the show in 2022 - doesn't have a partner this year. A source spoke out to the Sun newspaper and said: "Lauren will be stepping in today to train with JB.

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"It's unclear when Amy will be back but everyone just wants her to rest and get better." An ambulance was called to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood on Saturday when Dowden began feeling unwell. She returned to the Strictly line-up this year, having missed the 2023 series after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

A spokesperson for the dancer said the ambulance "was called as a precaution" and that she was now "feeling much better". A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: “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."

Last year, Oakley was partnered with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The pair finished in eighth place. But the pro dancer, who hails from Birmingham, was not given a partner for this year's ongoing series.