JB Gill and Lauren Oakley score joint series highest as Amy Dowden watches

JB Gill from JLS and his temporary dancing partner Lauren Oakley achieved the highest score so far in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, while Amy Dowden observed from the studio.

The Welsh professional dancer, who typically teams up with Gill, was absent from last Sunday’s results show. She was taken to Barnet Hospital from the production center of the BBC One show, Elstree Studios, as a “precaution” due to suddenly “feeling unwell.”

Oakley, 33, who is currently without a partner for this year's BBC dance competition, stepped in and delivered a Bruno Mars medley alongside Gill during Saturday's episode, earning a score of 39.

Judge Motsi Mabuse commented on their performance, saying, "It seems to me that you've really started to show your true colors. It's as if you've learned from your experiences over the past weeks, and now everything has finally clicked into place."

"I believe that anyone who dances styles like commercial, hip hop, or street dance can see themselves in this. You really captured the authentic vibe with a cool attitude, moving in a way that's both relaxed and grounded."

Craig Revel Horwood commented, "It wasn't great; there were two instances where the coordination was off."

"Wow, commercial work really suits you! It's impressive, truly impressive."

Prior to the performance, Dowden, who is 34, expressed that she, along with Gill and Oakley, had formed a truly exceptional team.

She observed alongside host Claudia Winkleman, who was dressed entirely in black and sporting a poppy, clapping for the couples as they made their way up the stairs.

Winkleman looked at Dowden and asked, “You three collaborated on this earlier this week, right?”

Dowden said, “Absolutely, it’s been a fantastic partnership. Just the other day, Lauren messaged in our group, asking, ‘J, would you like a coffee?’ I responded, ‘Sure, I’d love a vanilla latte.’”

Earlier that day on Instagram, Dowden expressed his heartfelt wishes for good luck to Oakley and Gill.

Reality TV personality Pete Wicks and his partner Jowita Przystal kicked off the show with a dance to Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust." They received a score of only 22 points, and head judge Shirley Ballas noted that their performance had “quite a lot of mistakes.”

Following the salsa dance, Wicks was heard apologizing to Przystal, who responded with, "It's fine."

Ballas commented on the performance, saying, “What an incredible start to the show! You truly captured the essence of Freddie Mercury."

"Let me be clear: I'm not here to criticize you too harshly. However, I do want to point out that there were several errors, and it wouldn't be honest for me to pretend otherwise. We can all recognize those mistakes."

"What really stood out to me was how you handled the situation, especially since you started off on the wrong foot. You kept going like a champion."

Next up were opera vocalist Wynne Evans and his dance partner Katya Jones, who earned a score of 30 for their rhumba performance set to Dame Shirley Bassey’s "This Is My Life."

Following the show, Evans shared, "I've consistently been transparent about my challenges with mental health."

I've experienced both challenging moments and joyful moments in my life. One key lesson I've gained from my time on Strictly, thanks to Katya, is the importance of self-belief and the necessity of learning to love ourselves first.

"If there are people at home tonight feeling a bit down for any reason, it's important to recognize the love for ourselves that we need to uncover. This is something I'm learning about myself."

Reality TV personality Tasha Ghouri and her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec wowed the judges with a performance of P!nk's "What About Us," earning them an impressive joint top score of 39.

Anton Du Beke remarked, “I didn’t see Aljaz at all; you were exceptional. You made it feel intimate and truly delightful.”

Former Olympic hockey player Sam Quek earned a score of 29 while dancing the American smooth with her partner Nikita Kuzmin, featuring Taylor Swift’s "Love Story."

Judge Mabuse expressed, "I believe she has every reason to celebrate today."

"Indeed, over the past two weeks, you've encountered a few bumps in the road."

"They're inconsistent and unpredictable, and you've been finding it challenging to establish a routine."

"I believe you really captured it this week. The energy you brought was reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, but with a joyful twist at the conclusion. I’m really pleased with that."

Comedian Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell received a score of 29 for their tango performance to Kiss's "Rock And Roll All Nite."

McCausland took the spotlight with his guitar, while Buswell humorously mimicked drumming in front of a logo inspired by Kiss that said "Chris." When they finished, Buswell praised her partner with a "great job."

Dressed up as Sir Rod Stewart, Judge Du Beke remarked, "You're making progress; your stance is getting better."

The downstairs area is a delight to see; it's truly wonderful.

"You made a little mistake at the end by starting with the wrong foot. But aside from that, it’s truly a delight to see you dance."

Sarah Hadland, known for her role in Miranda, and her dance partner Vito Coppola received a score of 37 for their cha cha performance to Madonna's song "Just Like A Prayer."

Mabuse, who was wearing a Tina Turner costume, stated, “This was legendary; everything came together perfectly. The movements were precise, well-timed, and flowed just like Tina.”

Olympian Montell Douglas and dancer Johannes Radebe received a score of 35 for their waltz set to "I Will Always Love You," originally performed by Whitney Houston.

However, regardless of the score, Revel Horwood stated, "I was hoping for a more gentle and airy performance; the frame was inconsistent."

Actor Jamie Borthwick and his dance partner Michelle Tsiakkas earned a total of 31 points for their samba performance set to George Michael's "Faith."

Ballas mentioned that while the dance had all the necessary technical aspects, it missed that sense of connection and unity among the dancers.

Singer Shayne Ward and his partner Nancy Xu received a score of 35 for their quickstep performance to a medley of songs by The Beatles.

Judge Mabusi praised their performance as “swift, rhythmic, and enjoyable.”

The results show for Strictly will be broadcast on BBC One at 7:20 PM this Sunday.