Lauren Oakley has broken her silence after being announced as Amy Dowden's Strictly Come Dancing replacement following her health scare.
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 Saturday's live Halloween special.
Since professional dancer Lauren has been confirmed as Amy's replacement for next weeks show as she will perform with her partner JLS star JB Gill.
Taking to Instagram after the announcement, Lauren shared a heartfelt promise to Amy as she sent her well wishes.
She wrote: 'Sending you so much love and well wishes @amy_dowden hope you're back on the dance floor as soon as possible!
Lauren Oakley has broken her silence after being announced as Amy Dowden 's Strictly Come Dancing replacement following her health scare
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 Saturday's live Halloween special; pictured last week
'I will look after @JBgill for you this week, I hope we make you proud!'
Welsh ballroom dancer Amy, 34, who is understood to be in remission after battling breast cancer, returned to the show following a two-year absence in September but collapsed on Saturday night backstage.
A show spokesperson confirmed: 'Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well.
'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.'
Moments before her hospital dash, Amy had performed the Foxtrot to Toploader hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her celebrity partner, JLS star JB Gill.
But fans noted the dancer was partially seated during her latest performance.
Lauren will rehearse with JB in Amy's absence after the singer avoided the dance-off, finishing fifth on the Strictly leader-board with a collective score of 32 from show judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton du Beke.
Since professional dancer Lauren has been confirmed as Amy's replacement for next weeks show as she will perform with her partner JLS star JB Gill
Taking to Instagram after the announcement, Lauren shared a heartfelt promise to Amy as she sent her well wishes
The Welsh ballroom dancer, who is understood to be in remission after battling breast cancer, returned to the show following a two-year absence in September (pictured with partner JB Gill)
A source told The Sun: 'Lauren will be stepping in today to train with JB. It's unclear when Amy will be back but everyone just wants her to rest and get better.'
Show insiders feared Amy, who also battles Crohn's disease, could quit the show following her collapse on Saturday evening.
Amy's mother Gillian Dowden, 65, said she had spoken to her daughter several times since her worrying backstage collapse after Saturday's show.
Speaking at Amy's family home in Caerphilly, South Wales, the mother said: 'We have talked today on the telephone and she is doing well.'
However, paramedics were called to the show's Hertfordshire base after 9:00pm on Saturday evening following reports of a 'medical emergency.'
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: 'We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.'
'An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care.'
The dancer, who missed the 2023 series of Strictly after being diagnosed with breast cancer, was forced to miss Sunday's Results show, which was pre-recorded shortly after her collapse on Saturday night.
Now concerned insiders are worried she won't be able to continue the competition, given the severity of her incident.
Show insiders feared Amy, who also battles Crohn's disease and is recovering from breast cancer, could quit the show following her collapse on Saturday evening
The dancer has battled gut condition Crohn's disease since she was a child and said she has already been through 'quite a lot' in her life with health struggles
An insider told The Sun: 'Amy was obviously in huge distress. Everyone around her was equally upset because they felt so helpless.
'JB had to be given a hug. Even the medic who first attended to Amy needed support and consolation.
'The only thing they could do was try to get her to hospital as quickly and safely as possible.'
Amy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer the day after she came home from her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones in 2023.
In what became the toughest year of her life, the Strictly Come Dancing star underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and also almost died of sepsis.
The dancer has battled gut condition Crohn's disease since she was a child and said she has already been through 'quite a lot' in her life with health struggles.
