Amy Dowden and her celebrity partner Chris Appleton became the first couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing this weekend. Her departure sparked backlash after she was eliminated from the competition in week two last year, while competing with Apprentice star Thomas Skinner.
Following their emotional exit on Sunday (October 4), Amy admitted she was "heartbroken" by the result, adding that "this seems to be my luck the last few years". After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, Amy withdrew from the series while she underwent treatment. She made a sensational return to Strictly the following year, when she was partnered with JB Gill, but was forced to withdraw from the show after injuring her ankle.
James Jordan's verdict on Amy's choreography
Now, former professional dancer James Jordan has confessed that despite her hard work, viewers made the right decision to eliminate her. Speaking to Express.co.uk on behalf of WhichBingo, the trusted guide to Bingo sites, the 48-year-old admitted that if the TV star had better tailored her choreography to his abilities, they would have made it further in the competition.
He told Express.co.uk that he thought "Katya would be better" for Chris than Amy. He added: "If Katya had had him, I think she would have got more out of him. The producers clearly know how each celebrity dances. So when they're pairing the professionals with the celebrities, they know who is going to go a long way in the competition, and they know who is going to struggle to be taught because they don't have maybe as much ability."
"So they would have known that when they paired him with Amy. But we've all been in positions where you get someone, and you've just got to be clever with the choreography and the way you teach them. And I don't feel she did a brilliant job, to be fair. So it's hard to say."
Pro dancer questions Amy's future on the show
When asked whether he thinks Amy could leave the show next year, he admitted she may be questioning her position. He reflected: "I'm sure at some point she'll be thinking, 'Do I want to do another year?' She seems like a lovely girl and everything. But yeah, I didn't think the choreography was good, you're not going to lie. I don't think she gave him the best chance possible; that's just my opinion. As a professional dancer, you always want someone who's got dance ability, and he clearly was not a trained dancer. So you are going up against people who are teaching their celebs who can already dance. You are at a massive disadvantage, which she was, clearly."
Brendan Cole also criticises Amy's performances
He isn't the only pro-dancer who has spoken out about Amy's departure from the show this weekend. Pro dancer Brendan Cole also criticised her performances, insisting that she's "not up to the challenge". He told Sky Vegas: "To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge. Any 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. 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."
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday from 6.20pm on BBC One or catch up on BBC iPlayer.
