Professional dancer Amy Dowden was hospitalized during Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing live show after collapsing backstage.
Dowden, who rejoined the BBC talent show this year after being absent from the previous season due to a breast cancer diagnosis, experienced a health scare that led to an ambulance being called to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.
In a statement to BBC News, Dowden’s spokesperson explained: “Amy was feeling unwell, so an ambulance was called as a precaution.
She is feeling much better now and would like to thank the *Strictly* family for their love and concern.” They also requested that Dowden’s privacy regarding her health be respected.
The 34-year-old Welsh dancer was subsequently transported to the hospital, as confirmed by an East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson:
“We were called just after 21.00 BST on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood. An ambulance was sent to the scene, and one adult female patient was taken to Barnet hospital for further care.”
Dowden did not participate in Sunday night’s results show. Her dance partner, JLS singer JB Gill, posted a message on Instagram after they advanced to another week in the competition:
“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for voting for us and wishing us well,” he wrote.
“We absolutely loved our performance on Saturday night and are so grateful to be through to another week. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.”
Last year, Dowden revealed a previous health scare when she nearly died from sepsis while receiving cancer treatment. She described the incident, explaining that two days after a chemotherapy session on August 3, she went for a walk with her parents, Gillian and Richard.
“The Strictly producers were checking in on me, and I was sending videos of me on my walk. I couldn’t believe how good I was feeling,” Dowden said. However, her condition rapidly declined once she returned home, prompting her parents to call an ambulance.
Gillian recounted to the magazine: “Amy’s symptoms got worse very, very quickly. At one point, she felt OK, then suddenly she felt very ill—it happened in an instant.” She added, “She went to stand, then just sort of crumpled back onto the settee.”
Emergency responders transported her to the hospital, where the ballroom and Latin dancer was admitted to intensive care with a high fever and later diagnosed with sepsis—a life-threatening condition that can prove deadly, particularly for those with a weakened immune system, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Dowden, who also manages Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory condition, was fortunate to recover following this ordeal.
