Amy Dowden makes triumphant return to Strictly Come Dancing after injury-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Amy Dowden returned to the Strictly floor for a special final performance (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden made an epic comeback to the show after a devastating injury forced her to withdraw earlier in the series.

The Welsh pro, 34, returned to Strictly this year after taking series 19 out for breast cancer treatment.

She was partnered with JLS pop star JB Gill, who topped the leaderboard right from the first performance, impressing both viewers and the judges with his talents.

However, disaster struck when Amy suffered a foot injury, meaning JB had to change partners in week 13, having now reached the final with Lauren Oakley.

But, in true Amy fashion, after resting and recuperating, she came back stronger than ever as part of a dazzling opening number for the grand final, where Chris McCausland, Tasha Ghouri, and Sarah Hadland compete.

Dressed in a sparkling gold outfit, the choreographer, who joined the Strictly family in 2017, gave it her all on the floor among her fellow professionals.

She was reunited with her fellow pros for a spectacular opening number (Picture: BBC)

Amy gave it her all as she dazzled in gold on the floor (Picture: BBC)

Taking to X after the opening spectacle, viewers said it was ‘amazing’ to have her back, especially given that her appearance was teased beforehand.

‘So glad Amy got to dance in the final dance although she should be with JB right now’, wrote X user scdkatdijowita, noting how bittersweet the moment was.

‘Nice to see Amy dancing again with the professionals!’, said AmyJoanne__, adding, ‘But wow what an opening!’

‘Yay Amy dancing at the final’, tweeted lauramitchem1.

‘So amazing seeing Amy back on the dancefloor’, added oliviarose18xx.

Amy was then seen in the background of the Clauditorium, beaming with pride after JB opened the final and achieved a perfect score of 40.

Ahead of the final, Amy teased a comeback by sharing a photo on Instagram.

Lauren Oakley took over as JB’s partner when Amy withdrew (Picture: Instagram)

Lauren said she wanted to ‘carry the torch’ for Amy (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

Uploading a grinning selfie, she wrote: ‘Back dancing in this magical ballroom.’

Following Amy’s exit, Lauren spoke about wanting to honour her co-star and ‘carry the torch forward’ after she helped JB build the foundations for his Strictly success.

Earlier this series, Lauren said: ‘I think leading on from the groundwork that Amy’s put in, I just want to carry the torch forward as much as I can, because she’s done all the work.

‘So I just want to do the partnership justice and bring my flair as well to JB because you’ve kind of got the best of both worlds. [He’s] got to work with a couple of professionals.’

Amy has also been keeping fans updated with her recovery, having sobbed to It Takes Two host Janette Manrara after withdrawing, saying she was ‘heartbroken’ given that being back on Strictly was ‘the best rehab’ after chemotherapy.

She went on: ‘I’m gutted because I was having the best time. To have it cut short is heartbreaking. I know this too shall pass. I will be there, cheering everyone on.’

Amy had to sit out of series 19 to undergo breast cancer treatment (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Explaining her injury, Amy said that she needed to rest for a couple of weeks after suffering an insufficiency stress fracture on her shin.

‘This injury could have happened to anybody. Nothing to do with previous health scares,’ she stated.

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