Yahoo News Inside Strictly's Amy Dowden and JB Gill's backstage support and close bond
The Strictly Come Dancing partners have become close friends, but will be split this week while Amy Dowden takes time off sick.
JB Gill could well be dealing with some extra nerves when he heads out onto the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom this Saturday as he won't have trusted partner Amy Dowden by his side.
The JLS star was matched with Dowden for the 2024 series and they have formed a strong friendship, but after Dowden had to leave last weekend's show in an ambulance, he has been repartnered with Lauren Oakley for Icons Week.
Dowden, who had to take last year off the BBC show while she had treatment for breast cancer and also has Crohn's disease, is said to be doing well and show bosses hope she will be back next week.
As Gill heads into their Couple's Choice routine with Oakley instead, we look at their close bond so far.
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Perfect match
Dowden is known as one of the sunniest personalities on Strictly and has made many close friends in her dance partners, regularly spending time with 2021 partner Tom Fletcher and his wife Giovanna.
It seems the Gills could also become lifelong friends as she shared her excitement at learning of her partner for her comeback series.
She shared: "Strictly 2024 let’s go! @jbgill honoured to be your partner for my return to the dance floor. I’m so very,very lucky! So excited and can’t wait to hit the dance floor together for Strictly’s 20th birthday! Let’s do this partner!"
Meanwhile, Gill commented: "I am honestly so happy to be her partner for this year’s show and cannot wait to get started and show you guys what we get cooking in rehearsals!"
JB Gill's wife backs the partnership
The singer's wife Chloe is a huge support to him in Strictly as they met when she was working as a professional dancer for JLS, and she seems thrilled that her husband is a part of the BBC One show.
Although some relationship are hit hard by the demands of Strictly training, it's clear that Chloe is fully on board with the whole experience which can only have strengthened the partnership further.
She makes regular visits to their training room, offering a dancer's expert eye on their routines, and has recorded many funny videos and dances with them for social media.
Promise of trust
It isn't just the celebrities that need to step out of their comfort zone on Strictly – the pro dancers also need to be able to trust their partners for lifts, which could potentially have been even more difficult for Dowden after going through surgery and illness.
But Gill made a vow never to drop her or let her down, as he told It Takes Two.
He said: "There were a couple of times where we were still trying to work out the lifts, and I said to Amy, 'I will never drop you. It's just not gonna happen. So whatever happens either we're both gonna go down, or it will be alright.'
"I think it's just psychologically not wanting to let Amy down. I don't mind, you know, fumbling something or you know, when mistakes happen. But I'm never, ever gonna drop her, so she doesn't have to worry about that."
Dance off shock
Given that Gill and Dowden were amongst the favourites to win the 2024 series, it came as a huge shock when they found themselves in the dance off.
Speaking of their shock at the result after making it through the judges' decider vote, Gill told It Takes Two that it had been "disheartening" to be in the bottom two after scoring 30 for their Jive.
But Dowden backed her partner, saying: "I think people forget like J is actually — I can remember week one doing a Waltz, and I was like, 'Have you had dance lessons before?' And he was like, 'I promise you, I've never had a dance lesson in my life. And I was just like, he's so talented and he works so hard and like, do you know what? Not just this week, I'm proud of every performance J has put on that block. I really am."
Missing Amy Dowden in Icons Week
Gill has a tough week ahead of him for the Icons show, as he will be dancing his Bruno Mars-themed Couple's Choice routine with stand-in partner Lauren Oakley instead of Dowden.
Last Saturday, Dowden was taken to hospital in an ambulance following the live show and although she is reassuringly reported to be doing well, she is taking time off to recover with hopes that she will be able to return the following week.
Aston Merrygold, who is Gill's JLS bandmate and competed in Strictly himself in 2017, told Lorraine: "It is him and Lauren, and obviously for him I think having to switch partners so last minute and that whole thing is going to play a massive part in pressure. Sending lots of love to Amy as well."
