JB Gill has shared an update after his dance partner Amy Dowden left the show with a foot injury.
Amy, a dancer who has also bravely battled breast cancer and Crohn’s disease, was thrilled to return to the dancefloor for the 2024 season after missing out the previous year.
However, earlier this week, the 34-year-old dancer posted a heartbreaking message on Instagram, expressing her sadness over having to withdraw from the competition. JB will continue competing alongside a new partner, Lauren Oakley.
Reflecting on her time dancing with Gill, Amy wrote: "JB thank you for being the perfect partner back. We topped the leaderboard week one and continued to work so hard and thank you for being so passionate.
“I'm so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short. My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury.
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"I'm sure at some point we will dance again JB. To all the fans, to my loved ones, my Strictly family thank you."
On Wednesday, November 6, the JLS singer shared his feelings about Amy's departure on his own Instagram account, expressing how "grateful" he is for her. Alongside a montage of photos of the two of them, he wrote: "What a wild couple of weeks it’s been but I just want to say how grateful I am to Amy Dowden for everything she’s done as my partner to date.
Adding: “We were both SO excited to work together when we found out we were going to be partners earlier this year.
“We talked and talked and talked in the holding room after we were paired, about life and aspirations and setting the groundwork to our involvement in a fabulous 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
“It was like we’d been friends forever and as a friend, it’s been heartbreaking seeing the wonderful journey we’d begun come to a halt.
In a heartfelt tribute, he shared his deep respect for Amy, saying: “That said, I have nothing but admiration for you. Your fight and determination are second to none. Your dedication to your art shines through in your passion for what you love.
“You would literally give anything to be on that ballroom floor dancing and I feel truly honoured to have shared it with you for 6 weeks. Thank you for your patience and support through every week.”
The Beat Again singer continued: “Thank you for trusting me with your creativity, doing everything in your power to enhance my ability and make it resonate on a Saturday night.
“Thank you for being the best teacher and helping me to fall in love with new styles of dance week after week after week.
“You are one of life’s special people and although our strictly journey ends here, you will dance again and I know it won’t be the end of our partnership. Our memories and moments will forever be in strictly history and I have no doubt you’ll be back, stronger and better than ever. God bless you always.”
