In a heartbreaking development for Strictly Come Dancing fans, the BBC has announced that fan-favorite professional dancer Amy Dowden will not be continuing on the show this year due to a foot injury. The news comes as a major blow, especially given Dowden’s triumphant return to the series after overcoming a previous battle with breast cancer.
A spokesperson for the show confirmed that fellow pro dancer Lauren Oakley will now step in to partner with Dowden’s celebrity contestant, JLS singer JB Gill, for the remainder of the competition.
“Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year,” the Strictly spokesperson shared. “While Amy focuses on her recovery following a foot injury, fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley will step in as JB’s dance partner. The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes.”
Dowden, 34, first joined the Strictly lineup in 2017 and quickly became a beloved figure on the show, known for her infectious energy and unwavering determination. In May 2023, at the age of 32, she received a diagnosis of stage three breast cancer, forcing her to miss the previous series.
In an emotional Instagram post, Dowden expressed her heartbreak over having to withdraw from the competition. “My heart is breaking right now,” she wrote. “Over the past few months, I have finally felt like myself again.” Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of. The focus shifted to choreography, music selections, the sequence of dances, and the areas we needed to improve. ded to work on. I felt free again.”
Dowden had been open about her cancer battle, including undergoing a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and fertility treatments. She later revealed in a BBC documentary that she had been “very unlucky” to contract sepsis during her treatment. However, in February 2024, she received the positive news that she had “no evidence of disease.”
Her return to Strictly this year had been a triumph, as she worked tirelessly to regain her strength and reclaim her place on the dancefloor. “Since hearing the words ‘You have cancer,’ my goal has been to return to the Strictly dancefloor.” It’s been an incredible challenge to return to the Strictly dancefloor, a task I dedicated 2024 to, and with the help of my incredible team, we managed to achieve it. I wanted to accomplish this for myself and my loved ones.
Now, with her strict journey cut short once again due to injury, Dowden is understandably devastated. “Dancing again in the ballroom with [the] strict family was a unique feeling,” she lamented.
Dowden’s dance partner JB Gill offered words of encouragement, saying their “moments will forever be in strict history.” And fellow pro Lauren Oakley vowed to “carry your partnership [with JB] forward and hopefully make you proud.”
Even Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse chimed in, praising Dowden’s “courage and strength” as an inspiration.
This is just the latest setback for the beloved dancer, who has also openly shared her struggles with Crohn’s disease over the years. In a previous documentary, Strictly Amy: Crohn’s And Me, Dowden spoke about how meeting others dealing with the condition helped her “accept” her own for the “first time ever.”
While Dowden’s departure is a major loss for this season of Strictly, her resilience and positive spirit have already made an indelible mark. Fans will no doubt be rooting for her full recovery and eagerly awaiting her eventual return to the ballroom.
Meanwhile, Oakley, stepping in to partner with JB Gill, will face significant challenges. The pair impressed the judges last weekend with a near-perfect performance, so they’ll be aiming to carry on Dowden and Gill’s momentum.
But the Strictly family and viewers at home will undoubtedly be sending all their love and support to Amy Dowden as she focuses on her health and healing. Her strength and perseverance have already cemented her status as a true inspiration.