Amy Dowden has revealed that she has not spoken to her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Thomas Skinner since before Christmas, as he has been busy with walks for mental health. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror at the TV Choice Awards, the professional dancer said: “We haven’t spoken recently - we’ve both been so busy. But we caught up just before Christmas, to wish each other well.”
The 35-year-old from Caerphilly, Wales, praised Skinner, the former Apprentice star who was the first contestant eliminated from last year’s show, for his mental health advocacy. “He’s doing amazing work for men’s mental health at the minute - including Sunday walks,” she said.
On the topic of potential replacements for departing co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Dowden suggested Emma Willis as an ideal candidate. “I’d personally go with Emma Willis. She’s a fantastic broadcaster, a true fan of the show, and passionate about dance just like Tess and Claudia,” she said. “They’ll both be dearly missed, but the format of Strictly will continue.”
Dowden, who has battled breast cancer and announced last November that she would withdraw from the 2025 series to undergo a second mastectomy, is preparing for a UK tour with fellow pro Carlos Gu for their dance show Reborn. She described Gu as “part of my family” and said, “I get to go on tour with the Strictly Come Dancing champion. What an honour!”
The dancer also revealed that a close childhood friend, Carrie, a mother of two young boys, has stage four cancer. “To hear that her cancer’s back and she’s facing terminal illness is absolutely devastating,” Dowden said. “The GoFundMe page I shared last week is to help raise money for an operation that could give her a little more time. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone at any age.”
