Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has defended the upcoming series of the BBC One show amid concerns over changes to its hosting line-up and dance troupe.
With the new series weeks away, the judging panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke is returning, alongside 15 new celebrity contestants. However, the most notable change comes after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman left at the end of the 2025 series, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe announced as their replacements earlier this year. Ellie Taylor will also take over as host of spin-off It Takes Two from Janette Manrara and Fleur East.
Core of the Show Unchanged
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dowden said: "We need to remember the core of Strictly is not changing." She added: "That competition, watching the celebrities learn to dance before every weekend, that's not changing and that's the heart and the reason why Strictly has been so successful for over the last two decades."
The Welsh dancer, who is returning to the competition this series, said: "I'm so proud to be part of that show and it's got me through the darkest of times and I'm not sure where I would be right now without Strictly." She also praised the new celebrities, stating: "The celebrities are so lovely and they're so good. We're in for a good series, let me tell you. I think it's gonna be one that you can't call it, it's gonna be so tight and so tough."
Professional Line-Up Shake-Up
Her comments follow the departures of professionals Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Nadiya Bychkova ahead of the 2026 series. Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita will make their debuts when the new series launches next month.
Personal New Chapter
Dowden was speaking at a CoppaFeel breast cancer awareness event with Pink Lady apples at Lingfield Park Racecourse, crediting the charity with helping her discover her own breast cancer in 2023. She underwent chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and suffered severe side-effects including sepsis, which forced her to miss that year's series.
She added: "I feel in a new chapter personally myself with how I'm feeling mentally, physically, and health wise. I'm really excited to be feeling so strong and happy and feel like a new chapter of me and then Strictly entering a new chapter."
