Strictly's Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden dealt 'health blow' ahead of live show

Amy Dowden has confirmed that she's suffering with illness just days before she's due to return to the BBC ballroom with Thomas Skinner.

Appearing on It Takes Two with Thomas Skinner, Amy was a bit quieter than usual, with host Janette Manrara acknowledging that she hasn't been feeling too well. "Amy, I know you're a little bit under the weather so excuse Amy today but he made you a beautiful drink to help you out," Janette said.

A hoarse Amy replied: "With turmeric, ginger, pepper," while Janette added: "I won't make you talk too much." Fans took to social media after their appearance on It Takes Two to wish Amy well, with one writing: "And now poor Amy has the lurgy girl can’t catch a break #strictly."

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Amy spoke about feeling poorly earlier this week, telling her Instagram followers: "So Tom has made me a drink because I've been a bit under the weather this week, haven't I? Tom - tell everybody, what's in here?

Tom said: "Bless you. I've made her my famous juice I take when I have a sore throat. Especially when I get up early in the morning for the market and it's cold. It's warm milk with manuka honey, black pepper, turmeric, cinnamon and a little bit of nutmeg. All shaken up, all stirred in - will hopefully make our Amy feel better."

Speaking to Janette on It Takes Two, Thomas opened up about how much his lifestyle has changed since he started the show. "I have lost a stone since starting Strictly - I'm a stone lighter. I feel no different," he said.

"I can't wait to get back in the caf. I have lost weight and I've noticed that my trousers are a little bit bigger."

Yesterday, some fans quipped that Thomas had been "set up to fail" after being given the difficult dance of the Salsa for this Saturday. The Apprentice star will be dancing the Salsa to Bonkers by Dizzie Rascal with Amy this weekend.

One viewer wrote on X: "The song for Skinner... Oh, they want him out bad," whilst another shared: "Oh Thomas is being set up for a fall." A third wrote: "Two Latin dances back to back and Bonkers for a Salsa is a horrible song choice."

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs weekdays at 6:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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