KEEP DANCING
Strictly’s JB Gill breaks silence on Amy Dowden’s collapse and reveals challenges with new partner Lauren
The star will be facing Icons Week without his long-standing pro partner this weekend as she recovers
STRICTLY'S JB Gill has broken his silence about his difficult training week after his pro partner Amy Dowden collapsed.
This Saturday, the show's first ever Icons Week, JB will take to the dancefloor with Lauren Oakley for the first time as Amy takes a week off after falling ill.
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Amy, who has Chron's Disease and has just completed treatment for breast cancer, collapsed on Saturday night shortly after performing on the live show.
It meant JB appeared on the results show alone while Amy was rushed to hospital to be checked over.
Speaking to OJ Borg on BBC Radio Two today, JB said of his partnership with Amy: "We’ve been able to build an incredible rapport over the last six/seven weeks and it’s been great going to the training room with her and working on the new routine and, you know, for me, learning different styles - whether it’s a Ballroom style or new Latin style - and then watching that process sort of, as it builds, into the show that we put on, on the Saturday night.
"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.”
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While she is given time off to recover, professional dancer Lauren will be stepping in to perform with JB this week, with the pair set to perform a Couple's Choice routine to a Bruno Mars medley.
However, the change in pro comes with its own challenges after weeks of getting used to one partner.
Discussing on how he is adapting to working with Lauren, JB revealed: “Well, of course everybody’s different and especially when you’re doing partner work - Amy’s slightly shorter than Lauren, you know, 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."
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"The good thing about this week is that I’m doing my couples choice, so it’s not so much Ballroom hold or Latin partner work and lifts and so on," he added.
"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.
Amy Dowden's Health Scare on Strictly: What We Know
"So actually, I feel like it’s gonna be a good way for me to, you know, to approach obviously the changes that we’ve had this week.”
With 10 couples left in the competition, this week the stars will be fighting for their place by paying homage to some of music's biggest icons.
JB and Lauren will pay honour Bruno Mars, a personal icon to JB, while other dances will see nods to Shirley Bassey, Taylor Swift, KISS, Whitney Houston and Queen.
Strictly Amy's cancer 'nightmare'
The Sun's Jamie Downham takes a look at the beloved Strictly star's ups and downs...
AS Strictly Come Dancing viewers know, you'll struggle to catch Amy Dowden without a huge smile on her face.
But recently the Welsh star - one the best-rated Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers the UK has ever produced - has suffered a string of "nightmare" blows to her health.
She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May last year and underwent a full mastectomy, before having chemotherapy towards the end of 2023.
However, she later reported docs had found a clot on her lung, telling fans sadly: "Unfortunately I've had another nightmare this week."
Nonetheless, brave Amy, seen here dancing with James Bye, made an epic return to Strictly the following month with an appearance that left many viewers in floods tears.
As 2024 dawned, she admitted: "I feel I was robbed of the year I had planned and reflecting for me makes me upset and angry."
However, she was soon smiling again. Amy, her hair starting to grow back after her cancer treatment, was seen messing around with her co-stars Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola on the Strictly tour earlier this month.
And despite another spell in hospital in February, she still mustered a cheeriness many would struggle for, telling fans: "The sun is shining - and I certainly can't wait for Spring."
And we certainly can't wait to see you dancing again, Amy...
A spokesperson for Amy said: "Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution.
"She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.
"We request Amy's privacy in matters of health is kindly respected."
Later, a spokesperson for the show said: "Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well.
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“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.”
Strictly Week Seven - Icons Week Dances Revealed
Here's what we can expect as the stars return to the dancefloor for week seven
- Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell: Tango to Rock And Roll All Nite by KISS
- Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas: Samba to Faith by George Michael
- JB Gill and Lauren Oakley: Couple’s Choice to Bruno Mars Medley by Bruno Mars
- Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe: Waltz to I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
- Pete Wicks and Jowita Przytal: Salsa to Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
- Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin: American Smooth to Love Story (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
- Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola: Cha Cha to Like A Prayer by Madonna
- Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu: Quickstep to Help! by The Beatles
- Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec: Couple’s Choice to What About Us by P!nk
- Wynne Evans and Katya Jones: Rumba to This is My Life by Shirley Bassey
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