Injury to keep dancer Amy Dowden out of this year's Strictly

Amy was partnered with JLS star JB Gill in this year's show

It has been announced that Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not be returning to this year's series of Strictly.

She was taken to hospital as a "precaution" when she started to feel unwell during the show two weeks ago.

The professional dancer posted on Instagram on Monday to say she was heartbroken after being forced to pull out of the series with a foot injury.

Fellow pro Lauren Oakley had stepped in to dance with celebrity JB Gill on Saturday, and now will take her place for the rest of the series.

A spokesperson for the BBC show said the professional dancer will not come back as she "focuses on her recovery" from the injury.

Lauren Oakley stepped in to dance with JB for icons week last Saturday

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said:

"The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes.”

Amy shared her feelings with fans in her Instagram post saying:

"There was no feeling like it, dancing again in the ballroom with [the] Strictly family".

JB replied to her post, saying "our moments will forever be in Strictly history".

Lauren Oakley's reply on the post was a promise to "carry your partnership [with JB] forward and hopefully make you proud".

Oakley, who did not have a celebrity partner this year, joined the BBC show in 2022.

Last year, Oakley was partnered with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The pair finished in eighth place.