Professional dancer Amy Dowden will soon be back on Strictly, having recently returned to screens earlier than expected
Amy Dowden has shared a health update ahead of her return to Strictly Come Dancing, having recently returned to screens earlier than expected.
While the professional dancer is preparing for her return to the famous ballroom, with rehearsals for the BBC One dance show’s 2026 series already underway, Amy is already back on our screens as she’s taking part in the new series of Celebrity Hunted over on Channel 4.
Having filmed the programme, which is for Channel 4’s charity initiative, Stand Up To Cancer, last year, viewers are now seeing how Amy teamed up with her Strictly co-star and friend, Carlos Gu, as they and other celebrity duos try to out-smart some of the most skilled intelligence agencies in the world to see how difficult it is to stay off the radar as a fugitive.
Amy’s participation in the show comes after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, at the age of 32, after she found a lump the day before her and husband Benjamin Jones’ honeymoon.
During the series so far, Amy spoke to her Strictly pal and fellow fugitive as they stayed with their dancing co-star Neil Jones, his now-wife Chyna Mills and their daughter, Havana, and said: “Obviously I’ve always wanted the honour of being a mum, and obviously I don’t know if that’s going to be possible,” as she wiped away tears.
Speaking to the Celebrity Hunted cameras, Amy reflected: “A cancer diagnosis changes your life forever. I just got married, I had my whole life ahead of me and all of a sudden, my world fell apart right in front of me. But I’ve been given another shot at life, and I want to embrace it and take every opportunity that comes my way.”
Amy, who underwent gruelling chemotherapy treatment and had two mastectomies, also returns to the hospital once a month for preventative treatment, having been diagnosed with a hormone-fed cancer, with one of her visits taking place during filming for Celebrity Hunted.
While it was an emotional scene to viewers at home, Amy has since told The Independent that she now feels comfortable speaking about her treatment on screen. “I don’t really find it hard now, revisiting it, because I’m at the hospital once a month,” she said.
“It’s part of my routine now. I celebrate now how far I’ve come, how strong I feel, how healthy I am, and I’m just grateful really, and honoured to feel this way,” she continued. “I’m forever in gratitude to the wonderful healthcare workers who’ve looked after me, the nurses, doctors, you name it, every healthcare worker. They are our true unsung heroes.”
Amy was also asked how she’s feeling before the launch of Strictly’s 2026 run, to which she said: “Honestly, I feel the fittest, the healthiest, the strongest I’ve ever been, Carlos knows you’ve just been on tour with me.” She turned to him and asked: “How would you say I am?”
To which Carlos responded: “I feel like everything that she went through somehow made her stronger mentally and physically. It made her realise she loves dancing, coming back and dancing and being on stage. We finished touring a month ago and she was was just incredible. She looked the best and she feels the best. I think being through something so severe makes you cherish what you have more.”
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