Strictly Come Dancing fans "emotional" as Amy Dowden makes show return

Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden had to bow out of the competition earlier this month after being paired with JLS star JB Gill. The beloved BBC dance show dazzled audiences once again, as the remaining couples put their best foot forward in hopes of dancing their way into Musicals Week.

Originally teamed up with Welsh pro Amy Dowden, JB is now dancing with Lauren Oakley after Amy was taken to hospital as a "precaution" when she felt unwell following a performance. Unfortunately, her stint on the show was cut short, as she disclosed on the companion programme It Takes Two that an "insufficiency stress fracture" meant she could no longer compete.

However, during tonight's episode, while Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola awaited their scores, eagle-eyed viewers were delighted to spot the 34 year old dancer among the crowd of celebrities and fellow professionals, including Nikita Kuzmin who was seen embracing her warmly. Fans took to X, previously known as Twitter, to share their reactions.

One fan posted: "OMG, I've only just realised that Amy is there. It makes me so emotional."

Another shared with a teary-eyed emoji: "Nikita hugging Amy.", reports the Mirror. A third remarked: "I love that Carlos is always right next to Amy, silently supporting", while another excitedly noted: "Hang on... Amy is there! ! ! ".

The evening also featured a Samba-thon challenge, where all the couples hit the dance floor simultaneously, allowing the judges to assess their Samba moves side by side. JB's impressive victory brought immense joy to his former partner Amy, with one fan exclaiming: "JB and Lauren winning the Sambathon fills my heart with pride! ! Amy must be beaming with pride! This wins for you, queen! "