Strictly's JB Gill shares training update after Amy Dowden replacement

jb gill and amy dowden on the one show
Strictly's JB shares training update with LaurenBBC

Strictly Come Dancing contestant JB Gill has shared an update on how training is going with temporary partner Lauren Oakley, after Amy Dowden had to take a week off.

Amy was taken to hospital in an ambulance on Saturday (October 26) before the results show was filmed as a "precautionary measure", and while she is doing well, fellow professional Lauren stepped in to cover training and to perform with JB on Saturday night (November 2).

Chatting to OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2 today, JB spoke about what it was like having to dance with someone different seven weeks into the competition.

"We’ve been able to build an incredible rapport over the last six/seven weeks," JB said of working with Amy.

strictly come dancing 2024 amy dowden and jb gill week 1
Guy Levy - BBC

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"So, to not have her in rehearsals this week has been a bit surreal. But you know, the best thing is that she's taken some time to get better. We're obviously wishing her all the best as she recovers."

Speaking more specifically about what it is like working with Lauren compared to Amy, JB explained: "Well, of course everybody's different... Amy's slightly shorter than Lauren. There are little sort of bits and pieces that are different for each of them. So for me coming into that and not, obviously, being a professional, it's just about having to adapt to how they dance."

JB went on to acknowledge that dancing a Couple's Choice this week meant they could be more flexible with the routine, so it has made it a little easier to adapt.

lauren oakley, carlos gu, strictly come dancing
BBC

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"It’s gonna be a bit more, I guess, individual side-by-side, because it's Icons Week this weekend on the show and we're gonna have a chance to express ourselves together.

"So actually, I feel like it's gonna be a good way for me to approach the changes that we’ve had this week."

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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