Strictly Come Dancing announces return of fan favourite in next show

Strictly Come Dancing has announced the return of the much-loved Dance-A-Thon. 

The show's first Dance-A-Thon challenge took place in the show’s seventh series in 2009 and has reappeared numerous times throughout the show’s 22 series. 

As revealed on Strictly: It Takes Two on Tuesday, the remaining Strictly couples will take to the Ballroom floor together to impress the judges with their best Samba moves in this series Samba-Thon.

The Dance-A-Thon format is a staple of Ballroom and Latin dance competitions around the world and its timely return for this special 20

The 20th anniversary series is a nod towards the world of professional Ballroom and Latin dancing. 

After all of the couples have their main dance in the show, they’ll shimmy back on to the ballroom floor to Samba as a group before the judges eliminate couples one by one, until the winner is crowned. 

Couples will need to quickly impress the judges as their final position in the Samba-Thon will have an impact on the overall score for the night. 

The first couple to be eliminated in the Samba-Thon will be awarded one point, with the second couple eliminated earning two points and so on, through to the winner who will have seven points added to their leaderboard position which is made up of the judges scores from their main dance in the show that evening.

This means that the Samba-Thon could have a real impact on who stays and who leaves the competition. 

The contestants taking part in the Samba-Thon will be revealed in next weekend’s Sunday results show from the Blackpool Tower.  

It comes after Amy Dowden is reportedly 'set to return' to Strictly in just a few weeks, after being forced to pull out of the competition.

The pro dancer, 34, who is understood to be in remission from breast cancer and has Crohn's disease, had to officially bow out of the competition due to a 'foot injury' after collapsing backstage last week.

While she can no longer be partnered with JB Gill, she is hoping to return to the show in a matter of weeks to take part in a dance routine.

Her spokesperson told The Mirror that she is expected to make a full recovery by then.

They said: 'Amy is hoping to be able to dance again on Strictly before the end of the series. It is a different injury to the one she had a year ago. It's the same foot but a different bone. It's just terribly bad luck. 

'She did it during training, it was one of those things, nobody's fault, but it got worse over the next few days.

'With this injury, there is no outward sign, she is ok to walk around, but she can't wear heels.'

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Amy quipped: 'My heart is breaking right now. The past few months I finally felt like me again. Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up.

'It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again. My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the Strictly dance floor. It's been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 to.'

'With my incredible team we got there. Something I wanted to do for myself and my loved ones. There was no feeling like it dancing again in the ballroom with my Strictly family'.

'Then I was partnered with the talented, kind, gentle, soul JB. Everyday out training room was chilled, hardworking and full of big smiles enjoying what we was [sic] creating together with a blossoming friendship'.

She continued: 'JB, thank you for being the perfect partner back. We topped the leader board week one and continued to work so hard and thank you for being so passionate about understanding the ballroom and Latin fundamentals'.

'For me that rumba will always be one of my favs. I'm so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short'.

'My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know all too well 'this too shall pass' and I'll be soon better and back dancing. Something I've had to get used to in my life. 

'I'm sure at some point we'll dance again JB. To all the fans, to my loved ones, my Strictly family thank you'.

Before adding that she knew JB's new partner Lauren Oakley would continue to 'ace the dance floor' and promised to be the pair's 'biggest cheerleader'.

JB took to the comments writing: 'Heartbreaking news @amy_dowden but our moments will be forever in strictly history, never forget that. Thank you for being the best teacher. Nothing but love from all of the Gill family'.

While Lauren wrote: 'This too shall pass. We’re still a team. Love you. You did the ground work, I’ll carry your partnership forward and hopefully make you proud XXX'. 

It was confirmed on Monday's episode of It Takes Two that Amy will not return for the rest of the series, as she recovers from the injury.