Strictly’s Amy Dowden breaks down in tears and admits she’s ‘heartbroken’ after being forced to pull out of the show following a foot injury – as she describes her show return as ‘the best rehab’ following her cancer battle

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden broke down in tears during an emotional performance on Wednesday’s It Takes Two after being forced to withdraw from the BBC show due to a foot injury.

The dancer admitted she was ‘heartbroken’ to have to withdraw from the competition, while her celebrity partner JB Gill would move on with a new professional, Lauren Oakley.

Fighting back tears, Amy revealed that the reason she had to withdraw from Strictly was ‘a stress fracture due to a deficiency in her tibia’, but she hoped that after a few weeks’ rest she could appear in a professional dance group later in the series .

She told host Janette Manrara: ‘I’m absolutely gutted, unfortunately I’ve had a stress fracture in my shin, nothing to do with my injury last year.

‘I’m exhausted, I need to rest for a few weeks, but JB will have to carry on without me. Hopefully I’ll be back in some capacity, as a group number, at the end of the series.’

When asked how much it meant to her to be back on Strictly this year after her battle with breast cancer, Amy tearfully said: ‘It was everything, sorry, I’m heartbroken! Being back with the Strictly family was the best rehabilitation.

‘Lauren gets a very kind and patient partner, but he is so talented that he picks up the routine so quickly. He just loves to dance, he’s just enjoying his Strictly journey, and I can’t wait to see them continue on that dance floor.”

‘I’m just gutted because I’m having the best time, it’s such an incredible experience, it’s heartbreaking to have to cut it short unfortunately. I’ll be there to cheer everyone on!’

‘I want to emphasize that it has nothing to do with previous health problems, it’s one of those things.’

Amy added that Lauren was in for a treat dancing with JB because he has “so much rhythm” and the potential to go far in the competition.

On Monday’s episode of It Takes Two, it was confirmed that Amy will not return for the remainder of the series as she recovers from her injury.

A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing said: ‘Unfortunately Amy Dowden MBE will not be taking part in the remainder of the competition this year.

While Amy focuses on her recovery from a foot injury, fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley will serve as JB’s dance partner.

‘The health and wellbeing of everyone involved with Strictly is always our top priority. The whole Strictly family is sending love and well wishes to Amy.”

Amy was just 32 when she received the earth-shattering news last May that she had stage 3 breast cancer.

She was filming the BBC series Dare To Dance at the time and said she realized ‘something was wrong’. The day before she and her husband Benjamin went on their honeymoon, she discovered a lump in her breast.

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

Amy returned to the hospital in August 2024 for more tests, where she was ultimately cleared.

After a year of scandal, BBC bosses were happy that Amy could return to the show after her battle with cancer when she was paired with JB.

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

Just before her hospital visit, Amy had performed the Foxtrot to Toploader hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her celebrity partner JB, but fans noticed the dancer was partially seated during her final performance.

On Sunday night’s Strictly, viewers watched as JB and his temporary partner Lauren dodged the dance and made it through a new week.

The singer and Lauren climbed to the top of the leaderboard thanks to their couples’ favorite performance during a Bruno Mars Medley, with a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40.

And when it was revealed the pair were safe for another week, JB paid a sweet tribute to Amy, looking at the camera and shouting ‘For you, Amy’ as he dedicated the performance to the Welsh dancer.

Amy burst into tears as she watched JB and her replacement Lauren achieve a near-perfect score for their routine.

She said, “I’m so grateful, Lauren. Thank you Lauren, thank you J, you too are just amazing. I wish I was there with you.”

Hours before JB and choreographer Lauren hit the dance floor, Amy wrote a heartfelt message of support for the couple on social media.

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

Addressing her dance partner directly, Amy continued, “JB, it says it all how you were able to adapt to being a new professional, produce such an amazing song (so excited for everyone to see it) while supporting me! I am so lucky! You are a STAR! I know what tonight means to you! Thank you!’

She also had kind words for Lauren after temporarily replacing her on the show, saying, “Thank you, I knew Jay would be in safe hands and have a fantastic time with you!”

‘You know, I’ve always loved your dancing ever since I ran up to you at Blackpool Tower at the age of eight to tell you! Thanks darling!’

To round off her sweet message, Amy also shouted out the Strictly choreographers for ‘such a brilliant routine’ as she shared her gratitude for the support she received from fans.

‘Thank you also for all the love and support I have received over the past week. So grateful and definitely helped! Tune in now strictly for the very first ICONS week!’ 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 @laurenmayoakley and I will make you PROUD.”

When Amy appeared on It Takes Two last week, Janette Manrara asked, “I want to start with you Amy, how are you doing?”

The professional dancer replied: ‘Yes, I feel so much better and I would like to thank everyone for all the love and support I have received, and also to my Strictly family.’

Commenting on what this week was like later in the show, she said: ‘I’m just so proud and so grateful for Lauren – they’ve worked so hard and JB has just been so supportive. He’s just confused and the A few of them have been messaging me all week.”

During the interview, Lauren explained that all three of them have a WhatsApp group and that she and JB regularly send Amy videos to keep her informed.

Amy chimed in, “I named it Team and a star next to it, we’ve been sending videos and messages every day.”