It’s been a bittersweet return to Strictly Come Dancing for 2023 – as despite the exciting show gearing up for another season of glitz, glamor and ballroom – one key professional dancer is missing from the line-up. Amy Dowden was forced to miss the latest series while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer – but her co-stars made sure she wasn’t forgotten during the series premiere – and shared a message of support.
During the episode, which aired on Saturday, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman paid a very touching tribute to Amy, calling her their “Welsh dragon” for missing the “start of the series” and wishing her a speedy recovery in a lovely tribute in front of one of the group dances.
WATCH: A heartfelt tribute to Amy Dowden
Amy has been candid about her treatment, recently admitting to struggling with hair loss as a result of chemotherapy, explaining: “I’m not going to lie… It’s really, really hard and I think I cry… less now. To start with, [it was] like every day. But now I have breakouts when I wash my hair once a week.”
© Instagram Amy is currently undergoing treatment
She added: “I haven’t brushed my hair for the last two weeks and it’s definitely helped. Since I got out of hospital with the blood clots I’ve stopped brushing it myself because I was freaking out seeing how much shedding there was.”
The Strictly Pro opened up about her cancer diagnosis in an exclusive interview with HELLO! in May, explaining, “I’ve been through a lot in my life and this is another hurdle,” Amy, 32, tells HELLO!. “But if I’m positive and strong, I have a really good chance of getting back on the dance floor as soon as possible… Just don’t think it’s going to happen to you. I didn’t think it was possible to get breast cancer at my age. My mom had cancer breast, but she had it at a later age, in her 50s.”
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Strictly’s Amy Dowden shares her new health status after her latest round of chemotherapySpeaking of realizing there was a problem, she continued: “CoppaFeel! now potentially saved my life, because I don’t know how long this lump could have been there before I noticed and did something about it. So I’m saying out could end up saving some other people’s lives because they start examining their breasts.
© Instagram Amy’s first round of chemotherapy is over
“I was in the shower and I felt this hard lump in my right breast. I was in shock; I checked again. I thought, ‘Yeah, it could just be period-related or something. I decided to go hold it. kept an eye on for a few weeks. On vacation, putting body lotion on every day, I noticed it. I started checking it less because it worried me, and I didn’t want to flare up my Crohn’s. Then when we got home, I went to do [dance] show with Ben and I was putting on some glitter and the lump seemed to be a lot bigger. I just knew I had to go to the doctor.”
Strictly Come Dating: couples who met on the dance floor
Besides Gemma and Gorka, there are several other couples in love who met during their time on Strictly…
- Janette Manrara and Aljaz Škorjanec met on Strictly in 2010, before marrying in 2017 and welcoming baby Lyra in 2023.
- Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev met during the series in 2013. They got married in 2019 and have two children together.
- Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg fell in love during the competition in 2018. They live together in Brighton.
- Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton met in 2018, and in 2023 they had a baby girl, Minnie.
- Max George and Maisie Smith shared their Strictly experience together in 2020, but didn’t go public with their relationship until 2022.
- Tyler West and Molly Rainford starred together in 2022 and have been going strong ever since!
- Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova are both professionals on the show and started dating in 2022.
- Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen were partners on the show in 2013, confirming their romance in 2014. Together they have a daughter, Mila, born in 2018.
Amy has already been overwhelmed with support from her Strictly co-stars, with Dianne Buswell sharing a photo of the pair together, writing: “Sending our Welsh Dragon every bit of love, energy, determination, healing vibes and more. I know today is a big day for you but knowing you’ll be (rrrrrrrreeaady) with your Welsh accent to see the light at the end of all this, ring the bell and get back dancing with your Strictly fam.”
© gettyAmy was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year
After posting a photo of her treatment, Graziano Di Prima wrote, “Sending love to my friend,” while Karen Hauer added, “Sending love.”
Speaking on This Morning, Anton du Beke said: “She’s an amazing girl and we all wish her as much love and support as possible. We’ve all been on the group chat throughout the journey. We can’t wait to see her back on the show, in the fight form.”
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education