Amy Dowden, the Strictly Come Dancing star, is swapping her dancing shoes for running trainers as she takes part in Celebrity Hunted, which airs tonight, Monday, August 3, at 9pm on Channel 4. The 35-year-old Welsh dancer is joined by fellow Strictly professional Carlos Gu in the celebrity edition of the show, where famous faces go on the run to escape capture by the Hunters.
Health Update
Amy, originally from Caerphilly, Wales, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2023 at the age of 32. She underwent chemotherapy and two mastectomies, the most recent in November last year. In 2024, she announced there was “no evidence of disease,” calling it her “biggest accomplishment yet.”
Recently, she marked three years since her first mastectomy, sharing the milestone alongside pictures from a trip to Ibiza. On Instagram, she wrote: "Three years ago today, I had just recently just my breast removed [sic] and was currently undergoing fertility treatment before starting chemotherapy. I was terrified, not only of the treatment itself, but of being thrown into a forced menopause because my cancer is hormone-fed."
She added: "Fast forward exactly three years, and my perspective on life has completely changed. I live each day to the fullest, with so much gratitude for the little things I once took for granted. I know how lucky I am, and I never lose sight of that. Every day is a gift, and I’m determined to make the most of it. Here’s to resilience, hope, and celebrating every milestone."
Marriage to Ben Jones
Amy is married to fellow professional dancer Ben Jones, whom she met in 2011. The couple made history in 2016 when they were crowned British National Latin Dance champions, the first all-British pair to win in over 30 years. Ben proposed on New Year’s Eve in 2017, and after the wedding was postponed due to the pandemic, they tied the knot in Gower Peninsula, South Wales, in 2022.
Together, they run the Art in Motion dance school in Dudley, West Midlands, helping others follow their passion for dance.
Pregnancy Hopes
Amy had an early, medically-induced menopause when her chemotherapy began. She and Ben have shared that they have preserved embryos, but it is unclear if she will be able to medically carry a pregnancy. Opening up about the future, she told OK: "Obviously, there is a big, dark cloud over me. Will I become a mother? I've wanted to be a mummy since I was a little girl. I was one of those girls who would always have a little baby Annabelle. And I have two gorgeous nephews, who I love to pieces. But we will cross that bridge when it comes to it and I will explore every option going."
Tragic Discovery
Amy appeared on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? earlier this year, where medical historian Dr Agnes Arnold-Forster revealed that her paternal great-grandmother Louisa also had breast cancer. Sadly, Louisa died of the disease in 1921 at just 39. Amy told Radio Times: "It took me back to being diagnosed with cancer myself. Agnes told me that cancer was incurable back then, so Louisa had to endure breast cancer without access to chemo or any modern medicine. It made me even more grateful for the NHS."
Celebrity Hunted starts tonight, Monday, August 3, at 9pm on Channel 4.
