Strictly Come Dancing star JB Gill has said his former dance partner Amy Dowden is “over the moon” that he made it to the final of the show. 34-year-old Amy, who is originally from Caerphilly, returned to the dance show this year after undergoing treatment for breast cancer, but was forced to leave the competition in early November due to an injury.
Since her departure, JLS singer JB, 38, has been dancing with Lauren Oakley, and the duo recently impressed judges with their performances, topping the judges’ leaderboard in the semi-final after impressing with a paso doble to Requiem For A Tower by Clint Mansell and a salsa to Red Alert by Basement Jaxx.
At a press conference ahead of the final, JB shared: “She (Amy) was there at the semi-final and she’s over the moon that we’re in the final, I’ve made the final. She’s been a huge support from day one, but even when she was not working with me anymore, she’s been massively in our corner wanting us to do well, sending messages and checking how things are going, asking how our week is.
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“And of course, it’s very unorthodox. It’s not something I think that’s ever happened on Strictly Come Dancing before. But she’s very much a part of the partnership and she’s just as, or has been just as valuable, to me, as Lauren has.”
Reflecting on his new partnership with Lauren, he said: “Having to permanently change to Lauren, I was a bit nervous, because people are invested in the partnerships and that’s what they love about Strictly Come Dancing. So I didn’t know how that would affect my journey throughout the whole process, but Lauren is amazing.
“On day one, before I knew I was gonna be working with her, I said to her that she’s amazing, she’s an incredible dancer, and to keep doing what she’s doing. And then obviously, fast forward a few weeks, I was working with her. And again, she’s very different to Amy, but she’s, I guess, allowed me to bring out a different side to myself.
“She’s what I call a dancer that feels, and so for me, that’s really inspirational.” For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter
After leaving the show, Amy clarified that the injury which led to her withdrawal from the competition was “nothing to do with any previous health scares”. In 2023, she received treatment for stage-three breast cancer and consequently did not have a celebrity partner on the show. Following her chemotherapy treatment and a mastectomy, she announced in February that tests indicated she had “no evidence of disease.”
This Saturday, JB and Lauren are set to perform three dances in hopes of wowing both the judges and the viewers at home, who will ultimately crown the winner of the glitterball trophy. His competition in the finals includes comedian Chris McCausland, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland, and ‘Love Island’ star Tasha Ghouri. Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live this Saturday starting at 6pm on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.