Strictly’s Lauren Oakley responds to Amy Dowden’s emotional exit statement

As a follower and admirer of Amy Dowden’s resilience and spirit, I can’t help but be moved by her journey. Her courage in facing adversity and her unwavering passion for dance are truly inspiring. It’s heart-wrenching to see her having to step back from the show she loves so dearly, but it’s a testament to her strength that even in the face of setbacks, she remains hopeful and optimistic.

Lauren Oakley, a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, has addressed an emotional message penned by her colleague Amy Dowden, who is leaving this season prematurely because of a foot injury.

2023’s event was missed by Dowden due to her honest fight against breast cancer, which became more challenging as she also had to deal with sepsis and a pulmonary blood clot.

After a lengthy return to the stage of Strictly Come Dancing, I found myself abruptly ending my dance journey this season due to an unfortunate foot injury, leaving me heartbroken. Fortunately, my partner, JB Gill, will continue dancing, now paired with the talented and gracious Graziano Di Prima (Graziano Oakley), who will step in for me during our remaining performances.

In a comment on Instagram, Oakley wrote: “Things will change, but we remain a team. I’ve got you in my heart. You laid the foundation; I’ll build upon it and strive to make you feel proud.

In response to Dowden’s emotional declaration about leaving the show, the dancer shared that it was incredibly challenging for her to part ways with the production, as it served as a significant source of inspiration throughout her healing process.

Dowden expressed, ‘I’m deeply saddened at this moment.’ Over the last few months, I had found myself once more – cancer was no longer my immediate thought upon waking. Instead, it was about choreography, song selections, dance sequence, and improvements we needed to focus on. I felt liberated again.

Experiencing nothing quite like it, I found myself back on the ballroom floor, surrounded by my Strictly companions. Then, fate paired me with the exceptionally talented, kind-hearted, and gentle spirit known as JB. Every day in our training room was filled with focused effort, laughter, and a growing camaraderie as we crafted something beautiful together. Our friendship flourished alongside our shared passion.

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Dowden went on to say: “JB: I appreciate your role as an outstanding partner. We excelled at the top in week one and have been consistently working hard, for which I am grateful. Your enthusiasm in grasping the fundamentals of ballroom and Latin dance is commendable. For me personally, that rumba remains among my all-time favorites.

I’m feeling quite down and disheartened, questioning why this happened to me now when our journey was about to continue. My heart is shattered as I have to withdraw from the competition due to a foot injury, but I know that this difficult phase will eventually pass, and I’ll be back on my feet dancing again soon.

An adjustment I’ve had to make throughout my life. I have faith that one day, JB, we’ll dance together again. To all my fans, my dear ones, my Strictly family: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Additionally, Dowden expressed her heartfelt good wishes for Gill and Oakley’s upcoming stage appearances, assuring them that they will undoubtedly “keep nailing the dance floor” and emphasizing that she will always serve as their most ardent supporter.

Originally, the dancer intended to miss just a single week from Strictly following her collapse backstage after a live performance and subsequent hospitalization. However, it was eventually made clear that she wouldn’t be able to return for the remainder of the current season.

2024-11-05 15:03

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