Strictly fans rally behind Lauren Oakley for her own partner next year

Passionate viewers support Lauren Oakley after stepping in for Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing fans are calling for professional dancer Lauren Oakley to have her own partner next year after she stepped in to dance with JLS singer JB Gill during the show's Icons Week.

Lauren, 33, first joined the BBC show in 2022 but was left without a celebrity partner this year due to Amy Dowden's health concerns. However, her performance with JB received high praise from the judges, earning them an impressive score of 39 points.

Viewers took to social media to express their admiration for Lauren's talent and demanded that she not be "benched" in the next series. Many fans called for Lauren to have a partner next year, with one stating, "NEVER not give Lauren a partner again! Love her."

Last year, Lauren partnered with newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy, finishing 8th overall. After their successful routine with JB, Lauren and Amy reunited in the "Clauditorium," where Amy expressed her gratitude and praised the duo for their performance.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer for those who want to catch up on all the dancing action.