BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Fleur East shares support for Amy Dowden after sad exit news

Following the announcement that Amy Dowden won’t compete in the remaining seasons of the series, former Strictly Come Dancing finalist Fleur East has since expressed her gratitude to Amy Dowden.

Amy, 34, didn’t take to the dancefloor on Saturday, following reports that she ‘ collapsed ‘ backstage the weekend prior. She has since been confirmed that Lauren Oakley will no longer be JB Gill’s dance partner in the current BBC series.

Amy’s departure was announced on companion show It Takes Two on Monday, with host Fleur, 37 – who was a finalist in 2022 – sharing a statement from a Strictly spokesperson. Fleur wrote a message to professional dancer Amy after reading the statement. Looking at the camera, she said to her colleague: “Sending you all our love, Amy. Get better soon”.

Unfortunately, Amy Dowden MBE will not participate in the rest of the competition this year, according to a Strictly spokesperson. Lauren Oakley, a fellow professional dancer, will serve as JB’s dance partner while Amy concentrates on her recovery from a foot injury. Everyone involved in Strictly has a top priority in terms of their health and well-being. Amy is euphoric and the entire Strictly family wishes her well.

Amy addressed her departure in a statement released this week, which she made after returning to Strictly this year after receiving cancer treatment. She wrote: “My heart is breaking right now. I finally started to feel like myself after a while. When I woke up, I no longer had to think about cancer first. It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again. Since hearing you said you had cancer, my goal was to return to the dance floor. It’s been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 too.

Which we arrived at with my incredible team. Something I wanted to do for my loved ones and myself. No one in my strictly family felt like dancing once more in the ballroom. Then I was partnered with the talented, kind, gentle soul JB. Our training room was always upbeat, hardworking, and full of enthusiastic laughter as we each celebrated our accomplishments and developed a blossoming friendship. Thank you for being your ideal partner. We won the first place spot on the leader board thanks to our tireless efforts in week one. We appreciate your enthusiasm for learning the fundamentals of Latin and ballroom. That rumba will always be one of my favorites, in my opinion. I’m so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short.

“I know that this too shall pass, and I’ll soon be better and back dancing because I have to pull myself out of the competition right now.” Something about my life has required me to adapt to. JB, I’m certain we’ll dance once more at some point. To all the fans, to my loved ones, my Strictly family thank you. You and Lauren will continue to rock that dance floor. I’ll forever be your biggest cheerleader”.

Amy allegedly “collapsed” backstage shortly after dancing with JB on October 26 according to a report earlier this month. After she began to “feel unwell,” it was established that she had been taken to Barnet Hospital from Elstree Studios as a “precaution.” After that weekend’s results show, she was later excused, but she revealed last week that she was “feeling so much better.” She then took a break from Strictly and sat out last weekend’s show, with Lauren, who does not have a celebrity dance partner this year, standing in for her.

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Source: Mirror