Strictly Come Dancing enthusiasts have expressed their worries for professional dancer Amy Dowden, who was unexpectedly absent from the results show due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Her absence followed a bout of illness after her Saturday Halloween performance with celebrity partner JB Gill. A representative for Amy explained: “Amy was feeling unwell, so an ambulance was called as a precaution.
“She is feeling much better now and wants to express her gratitude towards the Strictly family for their love and concern. We ask that Amy’s privacy regarding her health be respected.”
The East of England Ambulance Service has confirmed the incident in a statement: “We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.”
“An ambulance arrived promptly at the scene, and one patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further treatment,” reports the Mirror.
During the broadcast, host Tess Daly made a brief mention of Amy’s situation before announcing the dance-off contenders.
She mentioned: “Before we get started, Amy is unable to be with us for tonight’s show.”
JB Gill, who appeared solo on the results show, seemed to hint at his continued participation in the competition. Speaking to Claudia Winkleman, he said: “Honestly, I am beside myself, and Amy is, of course, going to be so happy (about not being in the bottom two) that we are through to icons week. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Amy’s sudden withdrawal from the show caused quite a stir on social media, with fans flocking to Twitter to send their well-wishes for the pro dancer.
Lauren Oakley stepped up to fill Amy’s dancing shoes for the Halloween performance. She joined forces with Carlos Gu and earned wide acclaim for having only 20 minutes to prepare as Amy’s stand-in.
One concerned fan wrote: “Hoping Amy Dowden is doing ok and wishing her well #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly.”
Another voiced their hopes, saying: “I hope Amy is okay. Given her recent recovery, I can’t help but worry for her. Sending love and hope she’ll be back soon. #Strictly.”
A spectator impressed by Lauren’s quick adaptation pointed out: “Hang on, Lauren only had 20 minutes to learn that, as an Amy replacement?? Wow, you would not have known #Strictly.”
Another tweet praised Lauren: “Shoutout to the amazing Lauren, who learned this routine in 20 mins because she stepped in to replace Amy!! #Strictly.”
Concern for Amy’s dancing partner, JB, was also clear: “I feel so bad for JB stood on his own! Hope Amy gets well soon, and they both get back on that dance floor next week #strictly,” one fan expressed.
Amy and her partner, who were dressed in scarecrow attire for the Halloween special, had previously been impressed with a 32-point-scoring Foxtrot by the judges. Just the weekend before, the duo faced a close call in the dance-off but were spared, leading to the exit of footballer Paul Merson.
As Strictly Sashays into another week of competition, another celebrity couple will face elimination. Meanwhile, eager fans await next Saturday’s episode, themed around icons, starting at 6.30pm on BBC One and featuring the remaining ten pairings.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday on BBC One.