BBC Strictly outrage over reaction to Amy Dowden absense as fans slam ‘stupid’ JB Gill decision: ‘Cruel!’
Strictly Come Dancing fans have slammed the show’s response to the worrying news that Amy Dowden had to be rushed to hospital after Saturday’s live Halloween extravaganza.
On Saturday evening at around 9pm, an ambulance was called and Dowden was rushed to hospital after falling unwell backstage.
Both Dowden’s team and an East of England Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed she’d been taken to hospital but the 34-year-old is now said to be feeling “much better”.
Dowden’s latest health turn comes just months after she celebrated “no evidence of disease” following her breast cancer battle after being diagnosed in May 2023.
Referring to Dowden’s health woe during Sunday’s results show, Tess Daly simply told BBC viewers: “Amy is unable to be with us for tonight’s show.”
Soon after, it was revealed her celebrity dance partner JB Gill would have to stand solo among his castmates to hear whether or not he’d be making it into next week’s instalment.
As Gill stood there with bated breath, Daly soon confirmed he and Dowden had made it through to Icons Week and before long, he joined Claudia Winkleman to discuss his future on the show.
Speaking on behalf of Dowden, Gill said: “I’m beside myself, and Amy, of course, is gonna be so happy that we’re through to Icons Week. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Winkleman then asked Gill to delve into next week’s Couple’s Choice they have planned, to which the JLS star excitedly confirmed: “I’m gonna be performing to Bruno Mars, it’s a medley, but one of the songs in the medley is…”
He then broke out into a rendition of Treasure along with his co-stars and while he did his best to remain upbeat, the fact he had to face the results of the votes on his own didn’t go down well with fans.
Hitting out at the response to Dowden’s withdrawal and its impact on Gill, one fan fumed on X: “#Strictly Why couldn’t jb just get a bye into next week, not leave him standing alone, he can’t have done dance off surely as only Amy would know routine & be unfair basing it on last night & leaving because of amy absence is cruel.”
“Why on earth did they have JB stood there alone?” another fan raged. “If he’d been in the bottom two would he have danced alone?
“Stupid really. Don’t get me wrong I wish Amy well poor love. Sending love and hugs #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
A third suggested: “Did anyone else feel sorry for JB standing all on his own when they were announcing who was safe? They could’ve at least got Karen(Hauer) to step in for Amy at least #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
Elsewhere, a fourth agreed: “They could have got one of the benched pros to stand with JB so he wasn’t on his own! it must have been extra nerve-wracking #Strictly.”
And a fifth concurred: “GUYS could we not have put JB with someone at least for the results show. bless him stood on his own. #strictly.” (sic)
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Soon after he discovered he’d remained in the contest, Gill took to Instagram with a statement on behalf of both him and Dowden, thanking fans for their support.
He penned: “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,” he signed off.
