Amy Dowden OUT of Strictly: Welsh dancer is forced to pull out of competition as bosses reveal reason for backstage collapse after her heroic return following breast cancer battle

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not return to the show this series, it has been announced.

The Welsh dancer, 34, who is believed 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.

Fellow professional Lauren Oakley was called in as her replacement to perform with JLS star JB Gill for Saturday night’s show.

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 a ‘foot 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 that the dancer was partially seated during her final performance.

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

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

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 looked at the camera and shouted ‘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 achieve a near-perfect score for their routine.

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

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

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

Amy shared, “Thank you, I knew Jay would be in safe hands and would have a fantastic time with you!

‘You know, I’ve always loved your dancing ever since I ran up to you in Blackpool Tower at the age of 8 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 so proud and so grateful to Lauren – they’ve worked so hard and JB has been so supportive.”

“He’s just confused and they’ve 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.”