Strictly’s Amy Dowden breaks her silence after being pressured to drag out of the competitors and says her ‘coronary heart is damaged’ after return to the present ‘set her free’ following breast most cancers battle

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has broken her silence after it was announced she would not be returning to the competition due to a ‘foot injury’

The Welsh dancer, 34, who is understood to be in remission from breast cancer and has Crohn’s disease, was forced to pull out of last weekend’s show after collapsing backstage. 

In a lengthy statement Amy said her ‘heart was broken’ and revealed the show had helped ‘feel like herself again’ following chemotherapy treatment as she paid tribute to ‘perfect partner’ JB Gill, 37.

Taking to Instagram she wrote: ‘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. 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.’ 

‘With my incredible team we got there. Something I wanted to do for myself and my loved ones. There was no feeling like it dancing again in the ballroom with my Strictly family’.

‘Then I was partnered with the talented, kind, gentle, soul JB. Everyday out training room was chilled, hardworking and full of big smiles enjoying what we was [sic] creating together with a blossoming friendship’. 

She continued: ‘JB, thank you for being the perfect partner back. We topped the leader board week one and continued to work so hard and thank you for being so passionate about understanding the ballroom and latin fundamentals’.

‘For me that rumba will always be one of my favs. I’m so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short’. 

‘My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know all too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing. Something I’ve had to get used to in my life. I’m sure at some point we’ll dance again JB. To all the fans, to my loved ones, my Strictly family thank you’.

Before adding that she knew JB’s new partner Lauren Oakley would continue to ‘ace the dance floor’ and promised to be the pair’s ‘biggest cheerleader’. 

JB took to the comments writing: ‘Heartbreaking news @amy_dowden but our moments will be forever in strictly history, never forget that. Thank you for being the best teacher. Nothing but love from all of the Gill family’.

While Lauren wrote: ‘This too shall pass. We’re still a team. Love you. You did the ground work, I’ll carry your partnership forward and hopefully make you proud XXX’ 

It was confirmed on Monday’s episode of It Takes Two that Amy will not return for the rest of the series, as she recovers from a ‘foot injury’. 

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: ‘Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year. 

‘Whilst 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.’

Amy was just 32 when, in May last year, she was given the earth-shattering news she had stage 3 breast cancer. 

At the time she was filming the BBC series Dare To Dance and said she realised ‘something wasn’t right’. She found a lump on her breast the day before she was going on a second honeymoon with her husband Benjamin.

Later that year, she was diagnosed again with another unspecified type of cancer and underwent a course of chemotherapy.

Amy returned to hospital in August 2024 for more tests where, finally, she was given the all-clear.

After a year of scandal, BBC bosses were delighted that Amy was able to return to the show following her cancer battle as she was paired with JB. 

But during the live Halloween special last month, she was admitted to hospital following a reported collapse at Elstree Studios – the BBC show’s Hertfordshire base – after suffering a ‘medical emergency’ backstage.  

Moments before her hospital dash, Amy had performed the Foxtrot to Toploader hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her celebrity partner JB – but fans noted the dancer was partially seated during her latest performance.

On Sunday night’s Strictly, viewers watched JB and his temporary partner Lauren Oakley avoid the dance off and make it through to another week.

JB paid a sweet tribute to Amy during Sunday night’s results show. 

The singer and Lauren soared to joint top of the leaderboard with their couples’ choice performance to a Bruno Mars Medley, scoring a near-perfect 39 out of 40.

And as the pair were revealed to be safe for another week, JB looked to the camera and mouthed ‘For you, Amy’ as he dedicated the performance to the Welsh dancer.

Amy, 34, broke down in tears as she watched JB and her replacement Lauren get a near perfect score for their routine.

As Amy watched JLS star JB and Lauren receive their score she started to tear up, with some viewers saying while she looked happy, it would have been hard not to have scored that with JB herself. 

She said: ‘I am so grateful to you Lauren. Thank you Lauren, thank you J, you too are just amazing. I just wish I was there with you.’

Hours before JB and choreographer Lauren took to the dancefloor, Amy wrote a heartfelt message of support for the pair on social media.

In a post on Instagram on Saturday, Amy shared a picture of Lauren and JB and wrote in the caption: ‘Wishing these two the absolute best of luck tonight! I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader!’ 

Addressing her dance partner directly, Amy continued: ‘JB it says everything how you’ve been able to adapt to a new professional, produce such a great number (so excited for everyone to see) whilst supporting me!

‘I’m so lucky! You’re a STAR! I know what tonight means to you! Thank you!’

The blonde beauty also had kind words for Lauren after she stepped up to temporarily fill in for her on the show.

Amy shared: ‘Thank you, I knew Jay would be in safe hands and have a fabulous time with you! 

‘You know I’ve always adored your dancing since I ran up to you in Blackpool tower at 8 years old to tell you! Thank you darling!’

Rounding off her sweet message, Amy also gave a shout out to the Strictly choreographers for ‘such a brilliant routine’, while sharing her gratitude over the support she’s had from fans.

‘Also a big thank you for all the love and support I’ve received this past week. So grateful and certainly helped! Now tune into the first ever ICONS week on strictly!’ she concluded. 

JB then responded with his own heartfelt words, writing: ‘You are the best. Your belief in me is so uplifting and your fighting spirit is second to none! 

‘Thank you for being my biggest champion and I know that @laurenmayoakley and I will do you PROUD.’

As Amy appeared on last week’s It Takes Two, Janette Manrara asked: ‘I want to start off with you Amy, how are you doing?’

The professional dancer replied: ‘Yeah, I’m feeling so much better and I’d just like to thank everyone for all the love and support I’ve received and to my Strictly family.’ 

Commenting on how this week has been later in the show, she said: ‘I’m just so proud and so grateful to Lauren – they’ve worked so hard and JB has just been so supportive of me.’

‘He’s just knuckled down and the pair of them have messaged me all week.’

During the interview, Lauren explained the three of them have a Whatsapp group and she and JB have been sending Amy regular videos to keep her in the loop.

Amy chimed in with: ‘I called it Team and a star next to it, we’ve been sending videos and messages every day.’