Amy Dowden has faced fresh criticism from former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole after becoming the first professional eliminated from this year's competition.
The 36-year-old Welsh dancer and her celebrity partner Chris Appleton were voted out following a dance off against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu. The judges unanimously chose to save the latter pair, leaving Amy to admit she was "heartbroken".
Brendan Cole's Verdict
Brendan Cole, who was a professional on Strictly from 2004 until 2017, told Sky Vegas: "To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge."
He added: "Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion. I don't think Amy's been doing a very good job for the last few years and she's been out first for the last few years. One can do the maths on that."
Cole, 50, also criticised her on-stage coaching: "She's standing out there counting him in. She's counting every step for him. It's very obvious that the job has not been done, and I don't think people are enjoying it."
Amy's Recent Strictly History
Amy joined Strictly as a professional in 2017. She withdrew from the 2023 series after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier that year, and returned in 2024 with partner JB Gill before being forced to withdraw again due to an ankle injury.
In 2025, she was paired with Thomas Skinner, and they were the first couple eliminated. This year's exit with Chris Appleton marks the second consecutive year Amy has been the first professional to leave.
Amy's Response
After the elimination, Amy said the celebrity hairstylist had become a "friend for life".
"Watching Chris grow in confidence, although it was short-lived with only two weeks, that is what I'll take away from it," she said, holding back tears. "Obviously, I am heartbroken. This seems to be my luck the last few years, but you know what? My heart is only breaking because I don't get to dance with you on Monday. But I get a friend for life, and that's what's going to heal my broken heart."
