THIS is the moment Strictly’s Amy Dowden disappeared off-screen as she struggled to control her cough after performing with a stinking cold.
The poorly professional dancer managed to pull through her performance and end up top of the leaderboard with celebrity partner Karim Zeroual.
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But during their interview with Claudia Winkleman, Amy revealed her croaky voice before being passed water from the sidelines.
Claudia told her: “You are so ill. You are being so brave.”
Amy replied: “I’m just so proud.”
Despite someone backstage passing her water to try and rescue her voice, Amy couldn’t stop herself from coughing.
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Despite spluttering as she leant into her partner Karim, the dancer did her best to keep a big smile on her face.
But when the scores were put up on the screen, Amy made a quick getaway.
She wasn’t seen when the camera returned to Claudia, showing only Karim being congratulated by his co-stars.
The pair scored 38 out of 40 thanks to two tens from Motsi Mabuse and Bruno Tonioli, Amy exclaimed: “That’s the best medicine.”
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Alongside suffering from ill health, Amy also revealed last-minute nerves meant Karm forgot their routine before going on stage.
She said: “I was nervous. Minutes ago he couldn’t remember it.”
It’s thought Amy caught her cold from Karim who was poorly earlier this week.
Hours before the show he revealed he was “on the way up” after illness left him worrying about being fit for the show.
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The TV presenter, 19, missed Wednesday’s It Takes Two, with Amy telling host Zoe Ball he had the “lurgy”.
Speaking to the Mirror about his illness, Karim said: “It started off with a sore throat, just a bit of a cold, (I’m) just run down, (I’m) really just working hard. I just needed some bed time.
“I literally just sat there (in bed), drank loads of water, honey lemon and ginger, but I’m on the way up now.
“It would take a lot to not get me down (there) on Saturday, that’s for sure. But that’s kind of what I had in mind.”
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