Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden Cheers on JB Gill as He Dances Without Her Tonight

Strictly Come Dancing returns tonight on BBC One for week seven, bringing excitement with a new theme, “Icons Week.” 

This episode celebrates 20 years of the hit show with couples dancing to legendary songs by artists like Whitney Houston, Queen, and Beyoncé. Unfortunately, one of the show's stars, Amy Dowden, will miss the live episode due to a recent health scare.

Amy, the 34-year-old professional dancer from Wales, fell ill last week during filming. She was immediately taken to the hospital from Elstree Studios in Borehamwood. 

Although the ambulance was called as a precaution, the incident left fans and cast members concerned. Amy’s health has improved, but she will need to rest and is unable to dance this week.

Amy, who was paired with singer JB Gill from the band JLS, expressed her disappointment at missing “Icons Week.” Her replacement, fellow pro dancer Lauren Oakley, will now step in to partner with JB. Together, they’ll perform a “Couple’s Choice” dance, showcasing JB's adaptability and Lauren's skilled choreography. 

Amy praised both of them, posting on Instagram, “Wishing these two the absolute best of luck tonight! I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader!” She also thanked JB for being supportive and understanding. “You’re a star! I know what tonight means to you,” she added.

Lauren, who joined Strictly in 2022, did not have a partner this season and was excited to help JB perform his dance. She has admired Amy’s work since childhood and is eager to support her while bringing her own flair to the performance. Strictly producers confirmed Lauren would rehearse and perform with JB for the rest of the week.

In her message, Amy also thanked choreographer Lizzie Gough, who created this week’s routine. “LOVE IT! Thank you!” she wrote. Amy expressed gratitude for the supportive messages from fans and added that these have helped her through her recovery.

BBC has teased a special performance from the pro dancers this week, including a Beyoncé medley. This will feature Johannes Radebe, who will take on the iconic Sasha Fierce persona. Fans are excited to see their favorite dancers pay tribute to legendary artists, which will bring a unique flavor to the show’s “Icons Week” theme.

Meanwhile, several couples are gearing up to bring their best to the dance floor. Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, who topped last week’s leaderboard, will perform a Samba to George Michael’s “Faith.” Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, who were tied with Jamie and Michelle, are set to do a Couple’s Choice dance to P!nk’s “What About Us.”

Some other notable pairings this week include:

• Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe: Waltz to “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
• Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal: Salsa to Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”
• Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin: American Smooth to “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
• Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu: Quickstep to “Help!” by The Beatles

Another unfortunate incident affected pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova, who injured her hand during rehearsals. She hurt herself while landing on her hand mid-rehearsal but is expected to join the cast on the balcony to watch the show. Nadiya, who was partnered with swimmer Tom Dean before their early elimination, has continued to perform in group dances and result shows.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were saddened to see Dr. Punam Krishan exit the show last week. Punam, a TV doctor, had joined the show with pro dancer Gorka Márquez. 

Together, they performed a Tango to “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics during the dance-off but ultimately lost to singer Shayne Ward. Reflecting on her experience, Punam shared how much she learned on the show. “I am really proud of myself. I took on something outside my comfort zone and learned new skills,” she said. She added that Strictly had given her a sense of achievement and created lifelong memories.

Her dance partner, Gorka Márquez, praised her efforts, saying, “It’s been incredible to watch her grow. She’s a GP and a mom. She improved week by week.” 

He admired Punam’s passion for dancing, especially her performance in a Bollywood routine, which showcased her culture to the audience. Punam expressed her gratitude to Gorka, stating, “You’ve sparked a love for dancing in me. I don’t think this will be the end of my journey.”

As “Icons Week” unfolds, fans are looking forward to seeing JB Gill and Lauren Oakley shine on the dance floor. In a heartfelt Instagram post, JB thanked the public for their support and appreciation after last week’s performance. “On behalf of Amy Dowden and I, thank you for voting and keeping us going,” he wrote.

Strictly fans and cast members are hopeful that Amy will recover fully and rejoin JB next week. A spokesperson for Strictly shared a warm message, “Amy Dowden is doing much better, and the Strictly family sends her love and wishes her well.” The excitement for “Icons Week” remains high as viewers eagerly wait for their favorite performanc