Amy Dowden has shared her thoughts on the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing, calling it the "start of a new era" as the BBC show undergoes a major shake-up.
Amy's Return
The Welsh dancer is returning to the beloved competition after her major comeback last year. Amy was forced to miss Strictly due to her cancer treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. Last year, she was partnered with controversial reality star Thomas Skinner, and the pair became the first couple voted out.
Now Amy is set to return alongside Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola, after several professional dancers including Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez announced their exits.
New Hosts Announced
Strictly has undergone another major change with Big Brother presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and fan-favourite Johannes Radebe taking over as hosts from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Commenting on the announcement and the pro-dancer departures, Amy shared on Lorraine Kelly's ITV programme: "It's the start of a new era."
She also teased that Johannes might continue dancing: "I can't imagine he won't be dancing. Knowing Jo-Jo and his love for dance, I can't see him not dancing! I obviously don't know but it's going to be all very exciting."
Bond with Former Hosts
Amy spoke fondly of Claudia and Tess: "They were there for me since I joined the show and they were for me during all my treatment. I just think those two were massive fans of the show, they genuinely loved and watched it."
Hopes for New Partner
Amy hinted at who she'd like as a celebrity partner this series. Lorraine Kelly joked: "Last year you were out first. This year can they just give you a really hot soapstar boyband athlete?" Amy replied: "I'd love that. Have a word with them, Lorraine!"
She added: "Being back after everything I've been through, that's a win to me. But I'd love to at least get to Blackpool, that would be lush!"
Departure of Claudia and Tess
Tess and Claudia announced they were quitting Strictly last year, saying their time had been "an absolute dream" but "now feels like the right time." They wrote: "We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show."
Tess, who holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-serving host of the same dance competition show, began presenting Strictly from its inception in 2004, first with Sir Bruce Forsyth and then with Claudia from 2014.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
