BBC Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two host halts show to issue Amy Dowden update

Amy Dowden will be absent from the upcoming week's Strictly Come Dancing, it has been confirmed.

Lauren Oakley has stepped in for Amy during rehearsals with her celebrity partner JB Gill after she fell ill and collapsed backstage during Saturday night's main show. An ambulance was summoned to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood as a "precaution".

A spokesperson for Amy said that she was "feeling unwell so an ambulance was called as a precaution". They further stated: "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." Amy was subsequently taken to Barnet Hospital for additional care.

Due to this incident, she was absent from the pre-recorded results show, which is filmed after the live show on Saturday night and aired as live on Sunday evening, where one celebrity is eliminated, reports Wales Online.

Providing an update on Amy, It Takes Two host Fleur East read out a statement from the BBC, confirming that Amy will be temporarily replaced by Lauren. The statement read: "Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well. She is delighted that fellow professional dancer, Lauren Oakley, is able to step in for rehearsals and to perform in Saturday's show for JB Gill's Couple's Choice dance. We are all hopeful that Amy will be back to dance with JB next week."

JB and Amy sailed through to the next round on Strictly, with the JLS sensation reaching out to his followers to express his gratitude. Sharing his thoughts on Instagram, he said: "On behalf of both @amy_dowden and I, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for voting for us and wishing us well. We absolutely loved our performance on Saturday night and are so grateful to be through to another week on @bbcstrictly Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support."

Expectations had initially been that Amy will return for the upcoming week's programme. Her mother Gillian spoke to Mail Online, confirming: "We have talked today on the telephone and she is doing well." Asked if she'd be back, she said: "Yes, I don't see why not."

Amy came back as a full-time participant on the show this year after her fight with breast cancer. She's been candid about the challenges with her illness and disclosed how she was close to death last year when she developed sepsis.

Reflecting on the critical moment, Amy's mother Gillian recounted: "Amy's symptoms got worse very, very quickly. At one point she felt OK, then suddenly she felt very ill it happened in an instant. She went to stand, then just sort of crumpled back on to the settee."

*Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs on weekdays at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.