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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Sami Quadri

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden is rushed to hospital after 'collapsing backstage' during live show

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden was rushed to hospital after collapsing backstage following Saturday night's live show.

The Welsh dancer, 34, who recently battled breast cancer, fell ill at the show's Hertfordshire studios shortly after performing with celebrity partner JB Gill.

Paramedics were called to Elstree Studios after 9pm following reports of a medical emergency.

Amy Dowden and JB Gill on the live show of Strictly Come Dancing (PA Media)

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 health scare came moments after Dowden and former JLS star Gill performed the Foxtrot to Toploader's Dancing In The Moonlight, scoring 32 points and placing fifth on the leaderboard.

A spokesperson for Dowden said: "Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution. She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern. We request Amy's privacy in matters of health is kindly respected."

The dancer, who returned to Strictly in September after a two-year break, has endured a challenging year. She was diagnosed with cancer just one day after returning from her honeymoon with dancer husband Ben Jones in 2023.

Despite initial hopes that surgery would be sufficient treatment, doctors discovered a second type of cancer in June. Dowden subsequently underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, while also battling a life-threatening case of sepsis during her treatment.

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