Amy Dowden has revealed the moment she "really broke down" following a heartbreaking realisation regarding her return to Strictly Come Dancing.
Health battles
Amy has endured significant health challenges in recent years; in 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after discovering a lump merely one day before her and partner Benjamin Jones' honeymoon, and subsequently underwent a mastectomy. Amy, who is from Caerphilly, has been living with Crohn's disease since the age of 11. She also received another cancer diagnosis, contracted sepsis, fractured a foot and even developed a blood clot in her lung.
Return to Strictly
Amy is set to resume her position as a Strictly professional when the programme returns next month, having marked her 36th birthday today. She was forced to pull out of the show owing to an injury in 2024.
Amy subsequently made her comeback to the dance floor with The Apprentice's Thomas Skinner last year, but they faced an early elimination. Speaking on the July 14 edition of the Breast Cancer Uncovered podcast, she acknowledged she "went back too early" in the series with JB.
She explained: "I had returned the year before, to Strictly, had an amazing partner, JB Gill, who went on to the final. I got pulled out because I went back too early, fractured a bone."
Breaking down
"And then I was like, 'I can't go back another year and then be pulled out because I need my breast off or because of anxiety over it. All I told myself was when I was diagnosed was, 'Once I get back on the Strictly dance floor, I'm gonna be fine'.
"So I think I parked everything I actually went through, and I thought getting back on the dance floor was gonna fix everything, and it didn't. And that's when I really broke down and had to really work on myself and actually go through everything I'd actually been through."
Amy also revealed how she's coping at present. She added: "I do, I feel happiest, the strongest, the fittest I've ever, ever been, but I knew then, like, okay, I need to get rid of all the fear that was still in me, you know, sleepless nights."
Birthday message
She shared a heartfelt message on Instagram today (August 10) to commemorate her birthday. In her video footage, she could be seen clutching a drink while a birthday candle was positioned in her mouth; she subsequently placed this in her cake.
She captioned the post: "Another birthday, and I'll always say that every birthday is a privilege. Feeling so grateful after the most beautiful weekend spent with my loved ones, making memories and feeling very lucky to be surrounded by so much love.
"And now, off to spend my birthday doing what I love most, dancing with my Strictly family! Couldn't think of a better way to celebrate.
"And a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful twin sister! So lucky to share this special day with you. Feeling very grateful, very loved and very blessed."
