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As it happenedended

Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden in tears at JB Gill’s score as Sarah Hadland wows with Madonna tribute

The professional dancer fell ill during the filming of last weeks show

Greg Evans,Rachel McGrath
Saturday 02 November 2024 21:17 GMT
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Amy Dowden gives health update in first TV interview after hospital dash

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Strictly Come Dancing returned to BBC One tonight for week seven of the show with a special theme, though professional dancer Amy Dowden was unable to dance following a health emergency.

The Welsh dancer, who is partnered with JLS singer JB Gill, fell ill during the filming of last week’s live show (26 October). An ambulance was summoned to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood and the 34-year-old was taken to hospital. A spokesperson for the dancer later said that the ambulance was “just a precaution”.

Fellow pro dancer Lauren Oakley instead partnered with Gill for the Couple’s Choice, which won high praise from the judges and landed the JLS star his first 10s of the series. Dowden joined the pair in the Clauditorium as the scores were delivered and became emotional as the numbers were revealed.

Icons Week is celebrating 20 years of Strictly Come Dancing with couples dancing to songs by music legends such as Whitney Houston, Shirley Bassey and Queen.

Gill and Oakley topped the leaderboard along with Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, who performed a Couple’s Choice to “What About Us” by P!nk. Both pairs landed totals of 39, with Craig Revel Horwood still yet to reach for his 10 paddle.

Another standout performance came from Sarah Hadland, who transformed into Madonna for a dramatic Cha Cha. She finished in third place on the leaderboard.

Montell’s scores are in...

Three 9s and an 8 from Craig give Montell a score of 35. Not bad at all.

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 19:39

Jamie makes the Samba look easy

Jamie has been joint top of the leaderboard for two weeks running which appers to have given him a confidence boost for the dreaded Samba — which he made look easy.

”You hit all the technical elements that one would want to see,” Shirley said. Anton is being picky though. “It started and went along and it sort of ended... it was an OK dance,” he said, which was met with (warranted) boos.

Anton, were we watching the same dance?

“You have amazing rhythm and your presentation was brilliant,” Craig said.

(BBC/Guy Levy)
Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 19:45

Jamie’s scores are in...

After all that, Craig has given him an 8.

Two more 8s (from Motsi and Shirley) and a 7 give Jamie a total of 31.

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 19:47

Tasha performs a beautiful Couple’s Choice

Well, that was an emotional one, wasn’t it? The tone was set in Tasha’s emotional VT as she spoke about the challenges she has faced.

The reality TV star, who was born with deafness and now has a cochlear implant, pulled off some seriously incredible lift with Aljaz, somehow looking unbelievably graceful as he practically threw her into the air. What a beautiful moment.

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 19:51

Tasha’s scores are in...

And she’s landed 39, which is incredible obviously, but I really thought Craig was going to reach for his 10 paddle.

“I am a little bit lost for words, there’s nothing I could say that would express how beautiful that was so I’ll leave it there,” said Shirley.

Craig didn’t have a single critique for once either. “A triump, darling,” he said.

Can we also take a second for Tasha’s dad’s tshirt? I hope they sell these online.

(BBC)

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 19:57

Shayne closes the show

Sorry but how does Nancy look so good in that wig?!

Shayne faced another dance-off last week but survived once again with Punam leaving the competition. I do think it’s a real shame he’s struggled winning over viewers as he’s clearly a talented dancer (and the lovely Nancy’s choreography is always amazing).

Ending up in the bottom two so often also seems to be knocking his confidence. This week though, he has bounced back — well, Quickstepped back — in style.

What a lovely way to close the show.

(BBC/Guy Levy)

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 19:59

Shayne’s scores are in...

And he has every reason to celebrate with a total of 35 — his and Nancy’s highest score yet.

That was thanks to (going along the panel), an 8 and three 9s.

“It’s not easy being in that dance-off again and again, but I think it’s bringing a fire with you,” Motsi said. “Stay lethal as you are. It doesn’t matter how many dance-offs you’re in, if you’re this good, you’re fine.”

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 20:04

Voting opens

Go, go, go! You only have until 8.40pm to pick your favourites and save them from the dreaded dance-off.

The easiest way to vote is in the Strictly website, where you can pick your top three couples (or just use all three votes on one pair).

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 20:06

Tonight’s leaderboard

Once again, there’s not much separating the celebs at the top. Two couples are tied in first place, and fourth place is a tie as well.

Here’s how things stand:

Strictly leaderboard scores from week seven of the dance competition

Recapping how the judges marked the ‘Strictly’ couples in Icons Week

Rachel McGrath2 November 2024 20:11

Amy, JB and Lauren’s emotional moment

Take a look back at one of the most of the moving moments of tonight’s show, which came as JB and Lauren received the JLS star’s highest score of the series so far.

Amy Dowden’s reaction to JB Gill’s score has Strictly fans ‘heart broken’

‘Seeing Amy cry has made me cry,’ said one viewer

Rachel McGrath12 November 2024 20:31

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