With just nine couples left, this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing is getting serious. This Saturday will once again see the remaining celebrities and their partners perform in the hopes of impressing the judges and holding on to their places in the competition.

Strictly Come Dancing's JB Gill and Lauren Oakley have shared their support for Amy Dowden following her exit from the competition.

Lauren Oakley has expressed her heartache after fellow co-star Amy Dowden was forced to step down from her role for the remainder of the Strictly series.

In sad news for Strictly fans, cast favourite Dowden has been forced to drop out of the competition as she recovers from a foot injury. An ambulance had been called for her at the end of the Halloween Week show, and Oakley stepped in to replace her as JB Gill's partner in Icons Week.

Dowden had to miss Strictly 2023 too, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, and had previously told of her joy at making it back onto the show. The star broke her foot last year after finishing her cancer treatment but speaking on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two she said this time she had suffered a stress fracture and that it was unrelated.

Shirley Ballas is "going to miss" watching Amy Dowden perform on Strictly Come Dancing now she has withdrawn from the competition. The Welsh dancer sat out of the competition for a week after being hospitalised and was replaced by Lauren Oakley,

Amy Dowden says her heart is 'breaking' after injury forces Strictly Come Dancing exit - Fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley will now take her place alongside celebrity partner JB Gill