Latest updates from Strictly Come Dancing week eight as nine pairs take on ballroom battle to earn spot at Blackpool Tower

The big story this week is that professional dancer Amy Dowden will not be returning to the show this series.

The Welsh dancer, 34, who is understood to be in remission from breast cancer and has Crohn’s disease, was forced to pull out of last weekend’s show after collapsing backstage.

Fellow professional Lauren Oakley was drafted in as her replacement to perform with JLS star JB Gill for Saturday’s night’s show.

It was confirmed on Monday’s episode of It Takes Two that Amy will not return for the rest of the series, as she recovers from a ‘foot injury’.

Lauren Oakley will continue to step in as JB’s dance partner for the remainder of the series.

The singer and Lauren soared to joint top of the leaderboard with their couples’ choice performance to a Bruno Mars Medley, scoring a near-perfect 39 out of 40.

And as the pair were revealed to be safe for another week, JB looked to the camera and mouthed ‘For you, Amy’ as he dedicated the performance to the Welsh dancer.

But can JB and Lauren find themselves at the top end of the leaderboard tonight?



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