The ITV The X Factor singer, who shot to fame with JLS, spoke out and revealed challenges with new partner Lauren Oakley, who hails from Birmingham.

BBC Strictly Come Dancing's JB Gill issues NEW update over Amy Dowden's future

by · Birmingham Live

BBC Strictly Come Dancing star JB Gill has broken his silence on Amy Dowden’s collapse. The ITV The X Factor singer, who shot to fame with JLS, spoke out and revealed challenges with new partner Lauren Oakley, who hails from Birmingham.

The BBC dancer will step in to replace Amy after the Strictly Come Dancing star was rushed to hospital last weekend. Speaking to OJ Borg on BBC Radio Two today, JB said of his partnership with Amy: "We’ve been able to build an incredible rapport over the last six/seven weeks.

"And it’s been great going to the training room with her and working on the new routine and, you know, for me, learning different styles - whether it’s a Ballroom style or new Latin style - and then watching that process sort of, as it builds, into the show that we put on, on the Saturday night.

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"So, to not have her in rehearsals this week has been a bit surreal. But you know, the best thing […] is that she’s taken some time to get better." JB went on, telling the podcast ahead of this weekend's instalment: "We’re obviously wishing her all the best as she recovers.”

The hopeful update hints Amy WILL return to the ballroom after her health scare. JB revealed: “Well, of course everybody’s different and especially when you’re doing partner work - Amy’s slightly shorter than Lauren, you know, there are little sort of bits and pieces that are different for each of them.

"So for me coming into that and not, obviously, being a professional, it’s just about having to adapt to how they dance." JB said: "The good thing about this week is that I’m doing my couples choice, so it’s not so much Ballroom hold or Latin partner work and lifts and so on," he added.

"It’s gonna be a bit more, I guess, individual side by side, because it’s icons week this weekend on the show and we’re gonna have a chance to express ourselves together. So actually, I feel like it’s gonna be a good way for me to, you know, to approach obviously the changes that we’ve had this week.”