Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden’s friend Sara Davies appeared on ITV’s Loose Women on Tuesday when she chatted about the professional dancer
Strictly: Amy Dowden holds back tears as JB receives scores
Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden is currently “uncontactable” after she made an early exit from this year’s series, former contestant Sara Davies has claimed.
Sara, who found fame on Dragons’ Den and competed in the 2021 series of Strictly, appeared on ITV’s Loose Women on Tuesday when she revealed that Welsh dancer Amy is “unreachable” following her step down due to an injury. Amy had a medical emergency earlier this month when she suddenly collapsed behind the scenes after the live performance and was taken to hospital.
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During last weekend’s show, dance partner JB Gill was paired with Lauren Oakley as Amy’s stand-in. Later, an emotional statement from Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, clarified that a foot injury was at the crux of her medical crisis, leading to her decision to withdraw from the remainder of the series so she could focus on getting better.
While on the ITV daytime programme, Sara disclosed her attempt to reach out to Amy via text without a response. She told the panel: “I tried reaching out to her and I know, from experience, when these things happen – and she’s had a lot of these things happen, God love her – she just goes into herself. I just know that she’ll be a heap on the couch.”
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During her appearance on Loose Women, Sara shared her insights about Amys situation, saying: “The thing with Amy is Strictly is her life. It’s not a job to her. It’s her passion, dancing is her life. And she lives for that time on Strictly and taking a celebrity through that journey. And to have it pulled away from her was devastating for last year. And I remember having to sit her down as that friend that kind of has to give you the tough love and say, ‘Amy, I know it’s your life, but it’s not going anywhere. It’ll be there next year. You need to put your health first. You need to go through the chemo. You need to get better. And then you can go and give Strictly your all,'” Sara expressed empathetically, reports the Mirror.
Sara revealed that despite the setback, Amy was willing to step down from this season’s Strictly Come Dancing to focus on her health, with a confident outlook towards returning next year. “I’ve got her teed up feeling, right, ‘I can do this. I’m just going to give it my all, getting better this year because next year I can do Strictly.’ And then there she was. And you see her every week. Having the time of her life. She leaves her heart on that dance floor. And then a foot injury,” Sara lamented.
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Amy, 34, had to take a hiatus from the glitterball spotlight following her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments last year. Yet, in a display of indomitable spirit, she graced the dance floor once more this series, partnering with erstwhile JLS member JB.
Hopes were high for the duo to reach the finals; however, due to unforeseen medical issues, Amy confirmed her departure from the competition.
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In an emotional statement shared on Monday, Amy disclosed her distress, reflecting on her recovery journey. “My heart is breaking right now. The past few months I finally felt like me again. Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up. It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again,” Amy said.
“My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the Strictly dance floor. It’s been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 to. My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know only too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing… I’m sure at some point we will dance again JB.”
Loose Women is on ITV1 on weekdays at 12.30pm and on ITVX