Strictly hosts pay tribute to Amy Dowden

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly took a moment to wish the pro dancer well.

Charlotte Colombo
·Contributor
·2-min read
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 23: Amy Dowden attends the UK premiere of 'Venom: The Last Dance' at the BFI IMAX in London, United Kingdom on October 23, 2024. (Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Amy Dowden had to withdraw from the competition due to a leg injury. (Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly paid tribute to departing dancer Amy Dowden after a leg injury forced her to leave this year’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing. Dowden, who was paired with JLS star JB Gill, previously missed the 2023 Strictly series after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had been rushed to hospital in Week 6 as a “precaution”, and sat out the following week before her departure from the show ahead of Week 8 was announced. “My heart right now is breaking,” Dowden said in an Instagram statement following the announcement. “I’m so sad, so upset, and asking: ‘Why me? Why now has our journey been cut so short?”

Appearing on Strictly: It Takes Two, professional dancer Amy Dowden said she was
Appearing on Strictly: It Takes Two, professional dancer Amy Dowden said she was "absolutely gutted" to pull out of the dance competition after suffering a injury.

She later revealed during an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two that she had broken her foot, and that her departure had nothing to do with her earlier cancer treatment.

Claudia Winkelman and Tess Daly led the tribute, which was followed by rapturous applause. (BBC screen grab)
Claudia Winkelman and Tess Daly led the tribute, which was followed by rapturous applause. (BBC screen grab)

In the opening moments of Week 8 of Strictly, Daly said: "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."

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing

Winkleman then proceeded to add: "Amy, everyone at Strictly is sending you so much love, and we cannot wait to see you back on this dance floor, very very soon."

Daly then concluded with a direct message to Dowden, saying: “Lots of love from us to you.”

Lauren Oakley will be dancing with JB for the rest of the competition. (BBC screen grab)
Lauren Oakley will be dancing with JB for the rest of the competition. (BBC screen grab)

Later on, during JB Gill’s dance with Lauren Oakley, judge Shirley Ballas also paid tribute to Dowden. She noted: “All these weeks, all these fundamentals [...] that you've learned from Amy, she set you up for this kind of performance. Lauren, you're [...] fantastic together as a team, but you couldn't have done it without all those weeks of work."

Gill and Oakley danced the Samba to Mas Que Nada, and amassed a total of 37 points.

Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday on BBC One.

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