BBC Strictly Come Dancing favourite dealt devastating blow just hours before live show

One Strictly Come Dancing couple are in danger (Image: BBC)

One Strictly Come Dancing couple may find themselves in trouble after being given a dance that has a notorious reputation for sending contestants home.

This week, the remaining couples are gearing up for a special themed week dedicated to music icons.

The lineup includes JB Gill and Lauren Oakley performing a Couples Choice routine to a Bruno Mars Medley, Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe dancing the Waltz to Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, and Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin delivering an American Smooth to Taylor Swift's Love Story (Taylor's Version)."

However, Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, who will be performing a Samba to George Michael's Faith, are said to be in danger.

According to an analysis from MyBettingSites.co.uk, over 2,300 dance numbers spanning nearly 20 years, 22 seasons, and almost 500 episodes show that the Samba has historically led to the most eliminations on the show.

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Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas are dancing a Samba this week (Image: Getty)

This news comes after the unfortunate announcement that Amy Dowden will be absent from this week's live show due to feeling unwell. The star collapsed backstage last weekend and was quickly taken to the hospital. Amy, who is paired with JLS star JB Gill, is being replaced by Lauren Oakley.

However, the 34-year-old dancer is said to be recovering well and remains hopeful about returning to the dance floor soon.

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A Strictly spokesperson said: “Amy Dowden MBE is doing much better and the Strictly family send her love and wish her well.

“She is delighted that fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley is able to step in for rehearsals and to perform in Saturday’s show for JB Gill’s couple’s choice dance.

“We are all hopeful that Amy will be back to dance with JB next week.”

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Amy Dowden and dancer partner JB Gill escaped being in the bottom two after their foxtrot to Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader.

Last year, Dowden found a lump in her breast while on her honeymoon in the Maldives with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones.

She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and, after treatment, in February announced that tests showed she has “no evidence of disease”.

Dowden documented her experience after seeing the impact on others of her documentary discussing her Crohn’s disease, and how it had helped her “accept” her own condition for the “first time ever”.