Lauren Oakley Shines in BBC Strictly After Taking Over for Amy Dowden
- Lauren Oakley replaced the injured Amy Dowden starting from Week Seven of BBC Strictly.
- In Week Eight, Oakley and JB Gill performed a well-received Samba, receiving high scores from the judges.
- Despite their strong performance, many fans felt the judges' comments overly credited Dowden for Oakley's achievements.
Lauren Oakley stepped in for Amy Dowden on the BBC show Strictly after Dowden was injured, beginning her role in Week Seven. In Week Eight, Oakley and her partner, JB Gill, performed a Samba that garnered them high scores and praise from the judges, particularly Shirley Ballas. Ballas emphasized the foundation laid by Dowden, suggesting that Oakley’s success was partly due to Dowden's teaching. Despite the accolades, many viewers expressed frustration towards the frequent mention of Dowden during the feedback, celebrating Oakley and Gill's achievement as their own. Overall, fans and judges acknowledged the transition and the hard work put in by both Oakley and Gill, with some feeling that recognition should focus on their efforts rather than continually referencing Dowden.