JB Gill has reassured fans he is gearing up for a return to the dancefloor next week in Icons Week in wake of the news Amy Dowden had been rushed to hospital.
On Saturday evening, Dowden reportedly collapsed backstage shortly after the live show, prompting an ambulance to be called to the BBC studio.
Dowden’s team confirmed the star was on the mend prior to Sunday’s results show, saying in a statement after the incident: “Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution.
“She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern. We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”
In Sunday’s results show, which is filmed shortly after Saturday’s live show, Tess Daly addressed Dowden’s absence, simply telling fans: “Amy is unable to be with us for tonight’s show.”
As a result, Gill had to wait on his own to find out if he’d managed to escape the dreaded dance-off which, luckily, he had done.
BBC Strictly: JB Gill had to speak to Claudia Winkleman without Amy Dowden by his side
BBC
Soon after, he joined Claudia Winkleman to discuss his and Dowden’s performance and what the future holds despite her absence.
Delivering an update on how Dowden would be feeling to hear they’d progressed, Gill told Winkleman: “I’m besides myself and Amy, of course, is gonna be so happy that we’re through to Icons Week. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Winkleman then revealed he and Dowden had a Couple’s Choice in the pipeline, to which Gill excitedly confirmed: “I’m gonna be performing to Bruno Mars, it’s a medley, but one of the songs in the medley is…”
The JLS star then broke out into a rendition of Treasure by the singer, and was soon joined by his Strictly co-stars.
Gill stopped short of revealing any further details about Dowden’s absence but an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman released a statement about the incident on Sunday.
A spokesman told The Sun: “We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.
“An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care.”
Since the news broke, Strictly fans everywhere have flooded the web with their support and well wishes for the star, who only found “no evidence of disease” following her cancer battle back in February.
Dowden’s hospital dash even led some fans to fear she may have “rushed” her return to Strictly after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023.
And with Dowden absent and Gill having to stand solo to hear the results, fans were left in tears as they sympathised with the singer and his pro partner.
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BBC Strictly: JB Gill appeared on the results show without Amy Dowden
BBC
“JB standing on the stairs on his own is so sad,” one X user penned alongside a crying emoji. “Hopefully lovely Amy is okay #Strictly.”
A second added another tearful emoji as they penned: “Jb stood by himself…really hope amy’s okay #strictly.”
“Not JB stood by himself omfg, I hope Amy’s ok #strictly,” another fan added with a crying emoji before a fourth weighed in: “Glad they didn’t make JB sweat with the wait for him to be announced, any other week they would have left him til last! #Strictly.”
However, some weren’t pleased with how the show dealt with the incident, typing: “They could have got one of the benched pros to stand with JB so he wasn’t on his own! it must have been extra nerve-wracking #Strictly.” (sic)