Amy Dowden pays tribute to real-life ‘icons’ as she speaks out after withdrawing from BBC Strictly Icons Week

Strictly star Amy Dowden has paid tribute to the people she most admires ahead of the hit dance show’s Icons Week.

Dowden, 34, had to be rushed to hospital last Saturday after collapsing backstage following her Halloween Week Foxtrot with celeb dance partner JB Gill.

After being taken to Barnet Hospital by ambulance, the Welsh dancer’s spokesperson said she was taken as a “precaution” after the star reported “feeling unwell”.

The statement from last Sunday continued: “She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern. We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”

The dancer will now miss this week’s edition of Strictly, where Gill will dance a Couple’s Choice routine with fellow pro Lauren Oakley, who is stepping in while Dowden recuperates.

Dowden had only recently returned to Strictly after missing last year’s series as she battled stage-three breast cancer.

The Welsh dancer bravely faced chemotherapy, a mastectomy, fertility treatment and a near-death brush with sepsis all while dealing with Crohn’s disease, which she has had since childhood.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of Icons Week, Dowden explained who she considers real-life icons, despite not being able to perform.

The star first identified her “oncologists and doctors” as icons after they “helped me through my Crohn’s and cancer battles”.

She also looked to her family as heroes, including her parents for “instilling a strong work ethic” in her and her “best friend” twin sister.

Touchingly, the 34-year-old also added in conversation with the BBC: “My husband, who gave up his own competitive dancing career so I could shine.”

When asked what being iconic means for her, Dowden was confident.

“Someone memorable, who stands out – not just for their talent but for their soul and personality. Someone who makes a difference.”

Later, she joked she would like to be known as “The Dowdenator” if she was ever to achieve “icon” status.

The fan-favourite will have to watch from the sidelines this week as Gill and Oakley dance a Couple’s Choice routine to a Bruno Mars medley.

Hours before collapsing, Dowden had admitted she was finding the series “very, very tough” because of the high standards being set.

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She and Gill achieved 32 points for their Halloween Foxtrot which placed them fifth on the Strictly leaderboard.

One week earlier, the couple survived the dreaded dance-off – triumphing over pundit Paul Merson and pro Karen Hauer.