Strictly's JB Gill departs rehearsals with new partner Lauren Oakley after Amy Dowden was forced to pull out of this week's show following health scare

Strictly's JB Gill departed rehearsals with his temporary partner Lauren Oakley on Tuesday after Amy Dowden was forced to pull out of this week's show following her health scare.

His current pro partner Amy, 34, was rushed to hospital during last week's live show after she collapsed backstage.

While she recovers, BBC announced Lauren would be stepping in for Amy and dancing with JLS star JB, 37, on Saturday.

BBC bosses said they were 'hopeful' that Amy will return next week.

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesman said: 'Amy is doing much better. She is delighted that Lauren 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.'

JB wrapped up in a long padded coat which he layered over a black T-shirt and a pair of Nike shorts.

He topped his sporty looked off with Adidas trainers and carried a huge bottle of water for the day.

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.'

Moments earlier the dancer 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.

The pair climbed to number five on the Strictly leaderboard after being awarded a collective score of 32 from show judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

A statement from Dowden's spokesperson confirmed: '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.'

Amy  told of her struggles at competing on Strictly after returning from her cancer battle.

The professional dancer revealed she was finding the series 'very, very tough' just hours before she collapsed backstage on Saturday night.

Amy blamed the high standards of this year's celebrity dancers for the level of intensity the show had reached after she and her partner, the singer found themselves in the bottom two the week before.

In an interview with the Mail, the Welsh star said: 'It's very very tough competition this year as you can see with that leaderboard.

'The reality is now that there are ten couples left and two of them will be in the dance-off each week. But, it's happened and we live to dance another day.'

Amy's mother Gillian Dowden, 65, has also 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.' 

A spokesman for Amy said the ambulance was called 'as a precaution'. She was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in 2023, forcing her to take a break from the BBC show's previous series.

Amy was diagnosed the day after she came home from her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones. 

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 also battled Crohn's disease since she was a child and said she has already been through 'quite a lot' in her life with health struggles.

Amy recently revealed how Strictly had helped her to feel herself again after cancer.

She said: 'What a difference a year can make. I look back and think, 'Gosh, this time last year I was having chemo... this time last year I was in hospital with a blood clot'. 

'I never truly felt really like me since my cancer journey until I was back on Strictly and working with my lovely JB.

'That's what I found hardest going into the dance-off - I'm not ready to have this taken away from me.

'I'm loving being back. I don't want it to stop. I'm not ready to finish my journey. I knew JB could get through the dance and could absolutely ace it.'