Strictly's Amy Dowden teases BBC return after sudden injury led to premature exit

By Fran Winston, Showbiz Reporter

Amy Dowden thanks fans for support after Strictly exit

Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden has hinted that she could be returning to the BBC ballroom this weekend for the live final.

On Wednesday (December 11), the Welsh beauty, 34, took to Instagram to share a cheeky snap of herself rehearsing on the famous dancefloor in a matching black co-ord.

She captioned the post: "Back dancing in this magical ballroom," sending her 713,000 followers wild online. The ballroom expert had returned to the show this year after sitting out 2023 while she was treated for breast cancer, and was partnered with JLS star JB Gill.

Unfortunately she was forced to withdraw just weeks after her comback when she suffered an "insufficiency stress fracture" on her shin.

Following her untimely departure she expressed her hope to return to Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales saying: "The doctor is saying I could be back dancing by the end of November so that’s what is keeping me going.

Amy Dowden teased her return to the Strictly online (Image: Amy Dowden Instagram)

"I am focusing on that, focusing on getting back on the dancefloor with Carlos and coming to Wales for our tour in Cardiff." Despite her injury, Amy is set to tour with fellow Strictly professional Carlos Gu on their Reborn UK tour from March next year.

The performer didn't indicate exactly when she would be seen dancing on our screens again, but there are only two Strictly episodes left this year - the grand final on December 14 and the Christmas special.

Lauren Oakley stepped in to dance with JB in her absence and the pair are in the final four couples who will compete to lift the glitterball this weekend.

They are up against Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, Miranda star Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola and comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell.

She was paired with JB Gill before she was forced to withdraw (Image: BBC)

Despite her setback this season, Amy has high hopes for the JLS singer and is fully confident in his capabilities. During an appearance on the BBC spin-off show It Takes Two during his first performance after her untimely exit, she gushed: "I knew he would do well.

"I saved a lot of dances for the back end of the series which I knew would suit him and his style of dance." More recently she spoke about him during an appearance on Lorraine.

She went on: "The first time I took hold of JB and did a few steps I knew he had the potential, the talent, musicality, the groove in his body and I think he will be in that final."

Amy expressed her strong support for her former dance partner saying: "We speak most days and I'll be cheering him on."

The Strictly Come Dancing final airs this Saturday (December 14) on BBC One at 6.20pm or catch up on BBC iPlayer.