Axed Strictly star opens up on ‘demanding’ show and unseen Amy Dowden moment that never aired

STRICTLY star Sam Quek has spoken out on her exit as she shared memories from her time on the "demanding" show.

The former hockey player became the sixth celebrity to leave the competition after facing Montell Douglas in the dance-off.

Sam, 36, thanked her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin for lifting her spirits after being placed near the bottom of the leaderboard week on week.

She also described the show as "aspiring" and "exceptional", but admitted it was a lot tougher than she expected it would be.

The mum-of-two said: "Physically, by day, I danced my feet red raw and repeated the weeks routine until my legs couldn't hold me up. By night, ice bathed, massaged and prepared to for the next day by watching my routine over and over.

"Mentally, the process was even more demanding. I missed my 2 year old and 3 year old - all the time! I would often do 10 day stints in a hotel and hearing them ask me to 'come home now, was tough.

"What people perhaps don't realise is the Strictly Journey starts two weeks before it hits the TV screens with pre-press photos, training starting etc so the time you are away is considerable."

Sam continued: "But what was more draining was working as hard as I could, sacrificing everything I needed to and still ending up towards the bottom of the leaderboard.

"It saps your motivation and kills your belief, but my family and Nikita were always there to help me push on.

"And I must stress, I knew what I was signing up for."

Sam also shared a moment that reminded her of what truly matters, describing an off-camera instance with pro Amy Dowden, who has recently battled cancer.

Amy and JLS inger JB Gill found themselves unexpectedly in the bottom two last week, with revealing the studio was stunned into an awkward silence.

Sensing the heaviness, Amy turned to the audience and gently reminded them, "Come on, folks… it’s just a dance-off… it’s not a year of chemotherapy!"

Sam explained: "It put everything into perspective for me ...

"A sobering reminder that there are bigger and more important things going on around the world then Strictly Come Dancing… amongst the glitz, glamour, twirls and lifts you can sometimes forget that."

Sam's supporters were quick to respond to her message, with former contestant Dan Walker writing: "Sam…. You were great and we loved watching you each week. What a lovely, honest message. Well done to you and Nikita."

Amy Dowden wrote: "Beautiful human and a beautiful dancer! Loved this partnership so much".

Italian pro Vito Coppola said: "We loooooove you and you are absolutely an amazing person. We are going to miss you."

EXIT ROW

Sam was in the dance off against Montell Douglas, who had finished fourth on the leaderboard on Saturday night after Strictly's first Icons Week.

The judges unanimously voted to save Montell, but during her explanation, Motsi appeared to take a swipe at the public for failing to vote for the two women.

Motsi said: "I would have to agree with Craig, both girls danced beautifully and it just feels like we're losing girls and girls and I'm like 'What is happening?'

"But when I compared the two dances, the Waltz and the slow Fox[trot], I am going to save Montell and Johannes."

Strictly fans were outraged that the two women were in the dance off, but some felt the judges were to blame as much as the public.

Responding to Motsi's comment, one wrote on X: "What’s happening Motsi is that you judges terribly over mark the men."

Another added: "Well Motsi, if you want girls to stay , stop overmarking all the blokes…..which the judges are doing to certain boys week after week."

A third tweeted: "So frustrating when the judges can’t mark properly as we then have the wrong people in the dance off & the wrong couple going home.

"Watching the smile fade off Sam’s face after she did well each week was infuriating when her male counterparts had mistakes ignored."