Amy Dowden has opened up about the moment she "really broke down" after making a tragic realisation about her return to Strictly Come Dancing. Amy has faced serious health issues in recent years; in 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump just one day before her and partner Benjamin Jones' honeymoon, and later underwent a mastectomy.
Health battles
Amy, who hails from Caerphilly, has lived with Crohn’s disease since she was 11. She was diagnosed with cancer again, battled sepsis, broken a foot and even suffered a blood clot in her lung.
Amy is due to return to her role as a Strictly professional when the show returns next month, having celebrated her 36th birthday today. She had to withdraw from the show due to an injury in 2024.
Speaking out
Amy later returned to the dancefloor with The Apprentice's Thomas Skinner last year, but they were voted off early. Speaking on the July 14 edition of the Breast Cancer Uncovered podcast, she said 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.
"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."
Current state
Amy also shed light on how she's doing now. 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."
She took to Instagram today (August 10) to post a touching message to mark her birthday. In her video clip, she could be seen holding a drink as a birthday candle was lit in her mouth; she then put 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."
Catch Amy on Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4 tonight (August 10), from 9pm to 10pm.
