Amy Dowden breaks silence following Strictly Come Dancing line-up news as co-stars react

Amy Dowden has broken her silence following the announcement of the Strictly Come Dancing line-up. The Caerphilly-born professional has been confirmed for this year's competition after she missed the 2023 series following her breast cancer diagnosis.

The 33-year-old was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer after finding a lump days before her honeymoon last year. Since then Amy has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy, suffered a blot clot, sepsis, and fractured her foot, all while bravely and relentlessly sharing her journey with her fans in the hope of raising awareness.

Earlier this year, Amy revealed in a joyous message that there was "no evidence of disease" following her cancer treatment and that it was "time to look ahead" following her "toughest year". Amy will now compete in the 2024 series of Strictly alongside Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

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Following the announcement, Amy took to Instagram where she broke her silence and told her 661K followers: "I'm so happy and grateful to be back on @bbcstrictly. MY HEART IS SO HAPPY.

"The best team on and off the dance floor. I can’t wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing! Feel blessed and more excited than EVER. Bring it on! Thank you @bbcstrictly for your support always. Eeeeeekkk." Amy added the hashtags Amy is back and let's do this to the post.

It wasn't long before Amy was flooded with beautiful messages from her Strictly co-stars and fans as presenter Claudia Winkleman left a string of hearts and Vito wrote: "Beautiful Amy we are so happy to have you back. We have missed you. Be ready because I am going to lift you very high.

"We love you and I am sure I can speak for all us when I say that it was not same without you. Let’s gooooo and let’s start danciiiiing."

"So happy to have you wear you belong," wrote Dianne, as Jowita added: "Yes!!!! Can’t wait to dance with you."

In other Strictly news, the BBC did not announce Giovanni Pernice as part of its line-up. The Italian professional dancer, 33, has been on the BBC One celebrity dancing show since 2015 when he reached the grand final with Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote.

Giovanni was last paired with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, who withdrew from the competition in 2023 citing "personal reasons". In 2021, Pernice lifted the Strictly glitterball trophy alongside EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf contestant to win. You can read more on this here.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 professional line-up

• Dianne Buswell

• Nadiya Bychkova

• Graziano Di Prima

• Amy Dowden

• Karen Hauer

• Katya Jones

• Neil Jones

• Nikita Kuzmin

• Gorka Marquez

• Luba Mushtuk

• Jowita Przystal

• Johannes Radebe

• Kai Widdrington

• Nancy Xu

• Carlos Gu

• Lauren Oakley

• Michelle Tsiakkas

• Vito Coppola

The 2024 series will be presented, as usual, by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, while judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood, and Anton Du Beke return to the panel. Speaking about the new series, which will air later this year, executive producer, Sarah James, said: "This year Strictly marks two decades of entertaining the nation and we will be back with a bang in September as we celebrate in style with our incredible team both on and off screen." You can keep up to date with the latest TV and showbiz news by signing up to the newsletter here.