Strictly Come Dancing is back on BBC One for week eight, but professional dancer Amy Dowden will not be returning for the remainder of the series.
Dowden, who was partnered with JLS singer JB Gill, was replaced by Lauren Oakley, after the former was rushed to hospital, having fallen ill during a live show.
The Welsh dancer, 34, had returned to competing in the BBC show for its 20th anniversary series following cancer treatment.
Dowden clarified that her “insufficiency stress fracture” had “nothing to do with any previous health scares”.
Meanwhile, the series has been plagued by rumours that fan-favourite Johannes Radebe is set to quit, after several outlets reported that his schedule for 2025 would mean he would be too busy to participate.
He is billed to star in Kinky Boots: The Musical for the first half of the year while he works on a film adaptation of his life story.
Radebe hit back at the claims, writing “I’m not going anywhere!” in a post on Instagram.
Last week, Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin were eliminated as they lost out to Radebe and Montell Douglas after placing in the bottom two following a public vote. Despite scoring lowest on the leaderboard, Pete Wicks and Jowitz Przystal survived another week.
This week, the stars are performing dances to a variety of songs at land their spot in the Blackpool special, with two Couple’s Choice dances by Przystal and Wicks, and Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell.
19:22 , Rachel McGrath
“Someone’s opened the top of your head and filled you with snake oil,” Anton said, in what is surely one of the oddest critiques ever given.
Craig didn’t have anything bad to say either, quipping that JB stands for “jolly brilliant”. Could we see the first 40 of the series? Stay tuned…
19:19 , Rachel McGrath
JB topped the leaderbaord and received his highest-score yet with his Couple’s Choice last week. The moment was bittersweet though, as he danced with Lauren Oakley as Amy Dowden had been forced to pull out due to injury. Sadly, it was this week confirmed Amy will not be able to return to the series and Lauren has now taken her place.
And the Samba suits him! He looks like he was having a blast and there’s no denying that there’s definite hip action.
19:17 , Rachel McGrath
But not before another emotional moment in the Clauditorium. “It’s been a tough week but the one person I wish was here is my nan and she’s not,” he said.
The scores? Pete should be very proud. He has his first 10 (thanks to Shirley) and his highest score yet, of 36.
19:14 , Rachel McGrath
That was lovely, wasn’t it? Pete really has transformed over the course of the series and actually looked like a decent dancer (which does sound harsh but come on… we all saw him in week one).
He’s doing his best to hold back tears now, as is Shirley. “I am a nan myself and just to see dedicate that to her… your heart shone through what you did, you were immersed in the music and the dancing, and that for me is what it’s all about.”
“All the bits I love about your dancing, you put on the floor,” Anton said, although his comments then got a bit weird as he broke through the emotion saying Pete’s arms “got a bit gammy” and he struggled when he “started actually dancing.”
“Besides all of the technical stuff, I thought it was moving and beautiful,’ said Craig. Motsi concluded: “We’ve seen all different sides of you and there’s a coolness about you. What I loved today is you showed us another side of you, you gave us a piece of your heart. I want to thank you for doing that.”
19:08 , Rachel McGrath
This is going to be a weepy one.
He explains in his VT: “This is the one dance I wanted to do from the start of this and it’s a tribute to someone who matters more than anyone, my nan.”
“There were so many happy and beautiful moments I had with her, as a friend and a safety net and a support, she was everything.” And he’s dancing to his nan’s favourite song too: Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best.”
Get the tissues ready, I reckon.
19:06 , Rachel McGrath
She’s landed 8s from the first three judges and a 9 from Anton, for a score of 33.
19:05 , Rachel McGrath
“Your hands were bothering me,” said Craig, before cheering up a little and adding: “You are extremely talented. The cartwheel into that lift was spectacular.”
“There’s lifts and then there’s what you guys did,” said Motsi. “You’ve been so consistent.”
Shirley’s feeling picky though. “I’m a little conflicted on this, the timing is very good, the execution was very good but I saw issues with gaping when you came together. I still want neater smaller details because you are so good.” She’s asking for more chemistry between them on the dancefloor too. “You’re on the right track, you’re doing amazing but give me a few more details.”
Anton has soome constructive feedback too, asking Sarah to work on her upper body.
Can you tell it’s Blackpool next week? The judges are being very, very picky.
19:01 , Rachel McGrath
Sarah and Vito are so beautiful to watch, and goodness — those lifts. Absolutely stunning and very nerve-wracking to watch. Sarah clearly loves this routine so much, she’s absolutely beaming.
18:59 , Rachel McGrath
This is an inspired song choice that will no doubt bring joy to Miranda fans as in the sitcom, Sarah’s character Stevie uses a cardboard cutout of Heather Small and sings “Proud” to motivate her pal.
I very much enjoyed Sarah showing Miranda to her Italian partner, Vito (who presumably has absolutely no idea what it is).
18:57 , Rachel McGrath
Two 7s and two 8s give him a total of 30.
18:54 , Rachel McGrath
Let’s be honest, only one judge’s comments matter on a Rumba: Shirley Ballas’s.
The Queen of the Rumba said: “You had some beatiful sections in the middle. I was a bit conflicted because on certain parts you were ab solutely outstanding, but when you stood still, you didn’t quite that sway.
“What I love is the chermistry between you’re, it’s really developing.”
18:52 , Rachel McGrath
You know what? The Rumba has grown on me this year. In the past, I’ve found them a little boring (sorry, Shirley) but the professionals are upped their game with the choreography and storytelling.
Shayne (like most celebs) said in his VT that he’s found the Rumba hard but he looks pretty confident on the dancefloor and Nancy looks beautiful, as always.
18:47 , Rachel McGrath
She’s landed an 8 from Craig, 10s from Motsi and Shirley, and a 9 from Anton, for a total of 37. A very strong start.
18:46 , Rachel McGrath
Ooo, we’ve got our first disagreement from the judges of the evening.
“You got all your steps in for the day,” said Anton before Craig claimed the routine was “a little bit safe”.
Motsi didn’t think so though, and countered that it had “everything”.
“That was full on dancing,” said Shirley. “You offered everything we need to see in a Quickstep. That’s the kind of performance that gets you to the one and only Blackpool ballroom.”
18:43 , Rachel McGrath
Tasha’s Couple’s Choice was absolutely beautiful. I really thought she was going to land the first 40 of the series but Craig wasn’t feeling like reaching the 10 paddle.
Tasha had been dreading the Quickstep but it suits her. And this routine has a lot of quickstepping in it which is sure to please the judges. I’m out of breath just from watching it.
18:35 , Rachel McGrath
Here we go! There are just nine couples left in the competition and tonight, they’re fighting it out not just for their spots in the competition, but to dance in the Blackpool special next week.
We have two Couple’s Choice routines on the schedule along with what could be a seriously high-scoring Argentine Tango and another Rumba. Buckle up, it should be a great evening.
18:08 , Maira Butt
Former Olympic hockey player Sam Quek and her professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin wrre the latest couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing.
Last Saturday’s episode saw the dance couples compete in the first ever Icons Week, dancing to songs by legendary musical acts such as The Beatles, George Michael, Bruno Mars, Queen, Madonna and Shirley Bassey.
Sixth Strictly Come Dancing star eliminated from series
17:30 , Maira Butt
As many of the celebrities competing on Strictly are actors, singers and performers, a large number of them will have trained in dance or theatrical performance.
Those contestants are often subject to backlash from viewers at home who argue that they have an unfair advantage compared to the other contestants.
There is also criticism that the inclusion of these celebrities means that the amateur dancing show has become more competitive in recent years. Last year, Layton Williams faced similar complaints from viewers who claimed he had an unfair advantage due to his dance experience performing in West End productions.
All of the Strictly stars with dance experience, from Tasha Ghouri to JB Gill
17:00 , Maira Butt
It’s Strictly season, and by now, all the stars have been through dozens of hours of intense training and performing, and know their respective pro dancers pretty well.
The reality competition series returned to our screens on 14 September, with a launch show in which the celebrity contestants learnt which professional dancers they would be coupled up with.
Meet your Strictly Come Dancing couples below…
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 couples – full list of pairings
16:30 , Maira Butt
Amy Dowden has hinted that she could return to Strictly Come Dancing for a group number after suffering a shin injury.
The 34-year-old was rushed to hospital as a “precaution” on 26 October and did not perform on the Saturday night show on 2 November. She was replaced by fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley as celebrity JB Gill’s dance partner.
She got emotional in an appearance on the BBC’s It Takes Two: “I’m absolutely gutted. Unfortunately, I have a stress fracture on my shin. I’m absolutely gutted, I need to rest for a couple of weeks.
“Hopefully I will be back dancing, hopefully in a group number by the end of the series. Fingers crossed.”
Read the full story below
Tearful Amy Dowden hints she may make a sensational Strictly return
15:57 , Maira Butt
15:00 , Maira Butt
The 34-year-old dancer was rushed to hospital as a “precaution” on 26 October, but it was later revealed she had sustained a stress fracture in her shin, which requires several weeks of rest.
Her replacement is professional dancer Lauren Oakley, who has stepped in to dance with Dowden’s celebrity partner, the JLS singer JB Gill.
Oakley, who came eighth when partnered with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy in the show’s previous season, did not have a partner this year. She joined the show in 2022.
“I’m absolutely gutted, I need to rest for a couple of weeks,” Dowden said on It Takes Two. “Hopefully I will be back dancing, hopefully in a group number by the end of the series. Fingers crossed.”
Read the full story below
Why isn’t Amy Dowden competing on Strictly Come Dancing and who is her replacement?
14:08 , Maira Butt
A handful of Strictly Come Dancing’s longest-serving professionals are “at risk” of being axed from the show as the BBC looks towards “a fresh start”.
After a wave of allegations surfaced about the behaviour of the show’s professional dancers earlier this year, reports suggest that bosses intend to bring a new generation of younger ballroom dancers to freshen up its image – leaving five names at risk of being dropped.
According to The Sun, those at risk of being dropped are reportedly some of the show’s longest-standing pros, including Nadiya Bychkova, who joined the show in 2017, Neil Jones (2016), Karen Hauer (2012), Gorka Marquez (2016) and Katya Jones (2016).
Read the full story below
Strictly ‘to axe five professionals’ as BBC bosses ‘want fresh start’
13:30 , Maira Butt
The 37-year-old ballroom dancer, who is currently partnered with Gladiators star Montell Douglas in the series, shared a post on social media to squash any ideas of him leaving the series next year.
In a video uploaded to his Instagram on Thursday, the dancer shared a video of himself in a training studio singing, “I’m going nowhere…. It’s a lie.”
He then joked and danced with Douglas in rehearsal, telling the camera: “Why they tell lies about me?”
He wrote in the post’s caption: “I’m not going nowhere! The story isn’t true – I love @bbcstrictly and I want to do this beautiful show for as long as they want me – and the body will allow.”
Johannes Radebe denies rumours about leaving Strictly Come Dancing
13:06 , Maira Butt
Ellie Muir reports:
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden won’t feature in the remainder of the dancing competition due to injury.
The 34-year-old dancer was rushed to hospital as a “precaution” on 26 October, but it was later revealed she had sustained a stress fracture in her shin, which requires several weeks of rest.
Her replacement is professional dancer Lauren Oakley, who has stepped in to dance with Dowden’s celebrity partner, the JLS singer JB Gill.
Oakley, who came eighth when partnered with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy in the show’s previous season, did not have a partner this year. She joined the show in 2022.
“I’m absolutely gutted, I need to rest for a couple of weeks,” Dowden said on It Takes Two. “Hopefully I will be back dancing, hopefully in a group number by the end of the series. Fingers crossed.”
Why isn’t Amy Dowden competing on Strictly Come Dancing and who is her replacement?
