Amy Dowden's sweet words about Strictly 'family' after cancer update

The dancer has been battling breast cancer

Amy Dowden at the Pride of Britain Awards 2023. (Getty Images)
Amy Dowden was diagnosed with cancer last year. (Getty Images)

What did you miss?

Amy Dowden has revealed how she leaned on her Strictly “family” amid her fight with cancer.

The Strictly Come Dancing pro announced in May 2023 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and in July that year said she been given a second cancer diagnosis. She suffered a setback when she became ill with sepsis.

But earlier this month she told fans on Instagram that she’d finally heard the words she’d been waiting for, that after treatment there was "no evidence of disease".

What, how, and why?

She opened up about it during an appearance on The One Show on Monday (26 February), after host Alex Jones said everyone had been “worried sick” about her. Dowden also revealed how grateful she was for her fellow Strictly stars.

Dowden said: “I can’t get the all clear for five years because I’ve got a hormone fed cancer. But words I’ve dreamed of, yes.”

Jones said she was “so pleased” for the dancer, adding that she looked “fantastic”.

Talking about Strictly, Dowden shared how she could rely on her co-stars. She said they were a family and that some of the other pros “came to the rescue” when she needed some help on her other show, Dare To Dance.

The star was diagnosed with cancer as she was filming and needed help teaching some of the people on the programme how to dance. So she reached out to her pro friends, and several of them rushed to help.

“I gave them a call and do you know what, it was lovely surprise for each of the contributors as well,” she said. “Dianne (Buswell) came along, Graziano (Di Prima), Oti (Mabuse), it was just brilliant.”

She went on: “It’s such a Strictly family. The Strictly family, it really is. We go to each other for everything."

Amy Dowden on The One Show. (BBC screengrab)
Amy Dowden on The One Show. (BBC screengrab)

What did viewers say?

Fans were also thrilled to see Dowden looking so well on The One Show.

"What a beautiful, amazing woman @dowden_amy is!" one person posted on X. "Gorgeous human," said another. "This is wonderful news."

One fan wrote: "Huge Congratulations Amy!! As a fellow breast cancer survivor, Isn't that the best 4 words to hear?! You did it!"

"Really, Really pleased to see Amy back to where she belongs," commented someone else.

Read more: Amy Dowden

Watch: Strictly star Amy Dowden talks to Digital Spy