Strictly’s Amy Dowden broke down in tears as she watched JB Gill and her replacement Lauren Oakley get a near perfect score on Saturday night.
The Welsh dancer, 34, was forced to pull out of this weekend’s show after collapsing backstage last week, with fellow professional Lauren being drafted in as her replacement.
And as Amy watched JLS star JB and Lauren receive an incredible 39 points out of 40, she started to tear up, with some viewers saying while she looked happy, it would have been hard not to have scored that with JB herself.
She said: ‘I am so grateful to you Lauren. Thank you Lauren, thank you J, you too are just amazing. I just wish I was there with you.’
JB, 37, and professional partner Lauren, 33, performed their couples choice to a medley to Bruno Mars and topped the leaderboard alongside Tasha Ghouri.
Hours before JB and choreographer Lauren took to the dancefloor, Amy – who is understood to be in remission after battling breast cancer and has Crohn’s disease – wrote a heartfelt message of support for the pair on social media.
In a post on Instagram on Saturday, Amy shared a picture of Lauren and JB and wrote in the caption: ‘Wishing these two the absolute best of luck tonight! I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader!’
Addressing her dance partner directly, Amy continued: ‘JB it says everything how you’ve been able to adapt to a new professional, produce such a great number (so excited for everyone to see) whilst supporting me!
‘I’m so lucky! You’re a STAR! I know what tonight means to you! Thank you!’
The blonde beauty also had kind words for Lauren after she stepped up to temporarily fill in for her on the show.
Amy shared: ‘Thank you, I knew Jay would be in safe hands and have a fabulous time with you! You know I’ve always adored your dancing since I ran up to you in Blackpool tower at 8 years old to tell you! Thank you darling!’
Rounding off her sweet message, Amy also gave a shout out to the Strictly choreographers for ‘such a brilliant routine’, while sharing her gratitude over the support she’s had from fans.
‘Also a big thank you for all the love and support I’ve received this past week. So grateful and certainly helped! Now tune into the first ever ICONS week on strictly!’ she concluded.
JB then responded with his own heartfelt words, writing: ‘You are the best. Your belief in me is so uplifting and your fighting spirit is second to none! Thank you for being my biggest champion and I know that @laurenmayoakley and I will do you PROUD.’
Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to comment on the performance and moving scenes.
They wrote: ‘JB and Lauren smashed it! But Lauren’s humbleness overwhelmed me completely, giving all the credit to Amy and constantly wanting to include her when the scores came in. Amazing’
‘JB getting his first 10s, Amy getting emotional, Amy and Lauren’s friendship ahhh I’m so emotional’
‘Incredible from JB and Lauren, as well as Amy I hope she’s better now! Iconic and perfect from start to finish, a 10!
‘In tears watching JB get 3 tens. Amy looked so happy for them but I feel she was sad that they didn’t get those scores together’.
On Friday, Amy appeared on BBC spin-off show It Takes Two alongside JB and Lauren, where she gave fans a update in her health.
Welcoming her to the show, host Janette Manrara asked: ‘I want to start off with you Amy, how are you doing?’
The professional dancer replied: ‘Yeah, I’m feeling so much better and I’d just like to thank everyone for all the love and support I’ve received, and to my Strictly family.’
Commenting on how this week has been later in the show, she said: ‘I’m just so proud and so grateful to Lauren – they’ve worked so hard and JB has just been so supportive of me.’
‘He’s just knuckled down and the pair of them have messaged me all week.’
Amy seemed to be in high spirits and looked glamorous in a glitzy blue two-piece suit.
Amy was admitted to hospital following a reported collapse at Elstree Studios, the BBC show’s Hertfordshire base after suffering a ‘medical emergency’ backstage during last Saturday’s live Halloween special.
Moments before her hospital dash, Amy had performed the Foxtrot to Toploader hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her celebrity partner JB.
But fans noted the dancer was partially seated during her latest performance.
During the interview, Lauren explained the three of them have a Whatsapp group and she and JB have been sending Amy regular videos to keep her in the loop.
Amy chimed in with: ‘I called it Team and a star next to it, we’ve been sending videos and messages every day.’
During the show, Strictly Come Dancing fans were all saying the same thing about Anton Du Beke’s outfit for Icons week.
During this week’s live show, Anton attempted to dress up as Sir Rod Stewart but viewers couldn’t work out it out at all.
He looked completely unrecognisable in a blond wig, while sporting a vibrant leopard print suit.
Shirley Ballas transformed into Cher as she sported a dramatic black wig and risqué glitzy bodysuit.
While Motsi Mabuse looked incredible as Tina Turner and Craig Revel Horwood transformed into Barry Gibb.
Taking to X, some fans admitted the judge looked more like Charlie Mullins than the British rock legend, 74.
Fans wrote: ‘Anton serving bet lynch. #Corrie #Strictly’,
‘How Anton thinks he looks vs how Anton actually looks #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing’,
‘Why is Anton dressed as Charlie Mullins the Pimlico plumber?’,
‘Anton looks more like Nigel Tufnell than Rod #Strictly’,
‘Anton is Rod Stewart…..I thought he was Charlie Mullins from Pimlico plumbers…. #strictly #StrictlyComeDancing’.
Strictly returned to the ballroom for a specially-themed Icons Week, which saw the couples dance to legendary tracks from some of the world’s most iconic music artists.
