Strictly's JB Gill says training without Amy Dowden is 'surreal' as she misses show
JB Gill has described the experience of training without his Strictly Come Dancing partner Amy Dowden as "surreal" following her absence due to illness. Amy, 34, is reportedly "doing much better" after a health scare led to her missing Sunday’s results show and a subsequent hospital visit to Barnet Hospital.
In her stead, professional dancer Lauren Oakley, who isn't paired with a celebrity on this year's BBC One series, will join JLS star JB for the upcoming weekend performance. While en route to practice with Lauren, JB shared his thoughts with the BBC Radio 2 programme Scott Mills, hosted by OJ Borg on Thursday.
He reflected on the unique bond he had formed with Amy: "We’ve been able to build an incredible rapport over the last six, seven weeks and it’s been great going to the training room with her and working on the new routine and, for me, learning different styles – whether it’s a ballroom style or new Latin style – and then watching that process sort of as it builds into the show that we put on, on the Saturday night."
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He continued, noting the odd feeling of her absence: "So to not have her in rehearsals this week has been a bit surreal." JB expressed relief at Amy's recovery progress: "But the best thing is that she’s taken some time to get better."
He also conveyed his well-wishes: "We’re obviously wishing her all the best as she recovers." Discussing the transition to dancing with Lauren, JB acknowledged the differences: "Well, of course everybody’s different and especially when you’re doing partner work – Amy’s slightly shorter than Lauren, you know, there are little sort of bits and pieces that are different for each of them."
"So for me coming into that and not, obviously, being a professional, it’s just about having to adapt to how they dance, and the best way for us to partner together. The good thing about this week is that I’m doing my couple’s choice, so it’s not so much ballroom hold or Latin partner work and lifts and so on."
"It’s gonna be a bit more, I guess, individual side by side, because it’s icons week this week on the show and we’re gonna have a chance to express ourselves together. So actually, I feel like it’s gonna be a good way for me to, you know, to approach obviously the changes that we’ve had this week."
JB says he will be doing a Bruno Mars-themed performance on Saturday night. On Monday, a Strictly spokesperson said: "Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
"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."
Amy's management company said on Instagram she "was discharged from hospital the following day and is now resting" and would be supporting JB and Lauren. This year the dancer returned to competing on the show after undergoing treatment for breast cancer, including having a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
Earlier this year, Amy revealed that tests showed she has "no evidence of disease". She has also spoken publicly about her experiences with Crohn's disease in the documentary Strictly Amy: Crohn's And Me.
The lifelong condition causes inflammation in parts of the digestive system, leading to symptoms such as stomach aches, fatigue, and diarrhoea, as stated on the NHS website. Meeting others who share her condition during filming helped Amy "accept" it for the "first time ever".
