Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden was taken to hospital last night after reportedly collapsing backstage.

The 34-year-old returned to the show this year after a battle with cancer, having revealed in February that her latest scans had showed "no sign of the disease".

Dowden performed her routine as planned with celeb partner JB Gill on Saturday, earning a respectable score of 32 from the judges, but The Sun says that an ambulance then had to be called when she collapsed off-camera.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed: "We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.

"An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care."

A representative for Dowden said: "Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution. She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.

"We request Amy's privacy in matters of health is kindly respected."

Speaking about her return to the Strictly dancefloor earlier this year, she said: "Honestly, it's the most wonderful thing. I get so many messages about my smile.

"I do always look back and think, 'Gosh, this time last year I was having chemo, this time last year I was in hospital with a blood clot'.

"What a difference a year can make. I get messages every day from people saying, 'I'm going through chemo and you're my hope', or, 'Because of you I've checked myself and I found a lump', or some-thing like this. I'm just grateful to be back and be in the position I am."