Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden makes huge announcement after show exit

Strictly Come Dancing fans are set for a treat next year as fan-favourite Amy Dowden is confirmed to make her comeback.

After having to step down from the competition due to injury, Amy has made it clear she's ready to return to the spotlight, partnering with none other than JLS star JB Gill for the arena tour. As announced, the dancing duo will light up the stage, with JB also performing some routines with Lauren Oakley during the expansive 30-show tour.

The star-studded line-up for the highly-anticipated live tour has been unveiled, featuring an array of talented dancers. Joining Lauren, Amy, and JB, audiences can expect spellbinding performances from Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, Montell Douglas and Kai Widdrington, Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, along with Shayne Ward paired up with Nancy Xu.

The roster will further boast Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystal as well as Robbie Kmetoni and Jake Leigh, all set to enchant those in attendance. Taking their place at the judges' table will be stalwarts Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, joined by Motsi Mabuse, who is making her inaugural tour appearance. To complete the dazzling array, It Takes Two's Janette Manrara will be joining the celebrations.

As excitement grows for the upcoming tour, Janette said: "Wow-what an incredible line-up of couples we have on the tour next year! Arena audiences around the country are in for a real treat.

"It's going to be a blast to be back with all the pros and, as an extra special treat, it will be a joy to welcome back the lovely Amy Dowden. Get ready for an evening of pure Strictly entertainment for the whole family - bigger and better than ever before!"

Despite the glittering line-up announced, fans noted the absence of reigning champion Chris McCausland from the tour roster.

Reflecting on his experience and decision not to join the tour, Chris remarked: "It's been a really emotional Saturday night and I'm still feeling quite worn down by it. It's been three and a half months; it's relentless.

"It's consuming - physically and mentally, it takes a toll. This is what the show does, it wears you down physically and mentally and then it pokes you with a stick until you cry in front of everybody. I started my tour in January this year, and I did the first leg until May, and I was meant to be back out in September."

He added: "We moved the dates to accommodate Strictly, so we just moved them to January. We had to move these dates to accommodate Strictly and it just wasn't a consideration at the time... I don't think anybody thought I would be any good at it. I don't think they thought it, I don't think I thought it. And in terms of going on tour in January, I didn't think I'd be going on tour on the back of Strictly. I thought I'd have about two months off."

The 2025 Strictly tour will kick off at Birmingham's Utilita Arena on January 17 before making its way around the UK.