Sam Quek Reveals Heartfelt Behind-the-Scenes Moment with Amy Dowden After Strictly Exit
A poignant moment from Strictly Come Dancing emerged this week as hockey star Sam Quek, recently eliminated from the show, shared a behind-the-scenes exchange with Welsh professional dancer Amy Dowden. After expressing her gratitude on Instagram for her journey on the show and the support of her dance partner, Nikita Kuzmin, Sam recalled a memorable comment from Amy that had resonated deeply with her, as reported by Wales Online.
The exchange happened two weeks prior when Amy and her partner, JLS star JB Gill, unexpectedly found themselves in the bottom two, set for a dance-off. The atmosphere was tense as the studio audience watched in surprise, breaking their usual warm applause as Amy and JB prepared to perform. In an attempt to ease the tension, Amy turned to the audience and said, “Come on folks… it’s just a dance-off… it’s not a year of chemotherapy!” Sam reflected on the impact of Amy’s words, describing them as a “sobering reminder that there are bigger and more important things going on around the world than Strictly Come Dancing… amongst the glitz, glamour, twirls, and lifts, you can sometimes forget that”, according to the Express.
Amy, 34, was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in May 2023, which forced her to take a step back from last year’s series. Her journey, detailed in the BBC documentary Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, showed her resilience as she navigated treatment. For Amy, dancing has been a goal to work towards throughout her health challenges, and her return for the show’s 20th anniversary season brought her immense joy. Announcing her comeback, she shared her excitement, stating, “MY HEART IS SO HAPPY. The best team on and off the dance floor. I can’t wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing!”
This season, Amy has been paired with JB Gill. However, she was unable to perform during the November 2 show due to a sudden illness at the Strictly studios, for which she was briefly hospitalized. Watching from the sidelines, she saw JB and stand-in partner Lauren Oakley perform a couple’s choice dance to a Bruno Mars medley. The performance earned JB his highest series score of 39, leaving Amy emotional. “I wish I was down there with you,” she admitted through tears.
Despite the challenges, Amy’s inspiring journey and resilience continue to resonate with both her colleagues and audiences, highlighting the strength behind the dancer who continues to bring joy and perspective to the dance floor.