Yahoo News Strictly: It Takes Two stars praise Amy Dowden's return to ballroom
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two hosts Janette Manrara and Fleur East have praised Amy Dowden following her return to the dancefloor.
The Welsh professional was absent from last year’s series of the BBC show as she recovered from breast cancer, but she made her full-time return to the studio during Saturday’s (September 14) launch show for the 22nd series.
The occasion was a celebration, as Amy led a special routine featuring her fellow professionals. Janette and Fleur praised the dance during an appearance on The One Show on Tuesday (September 17).
Related: Strictly's Gorka shares tearful Instagram update after launch show
“Amy is such an incredible return," Janette said. “She’s had Crohn’s Disease her whole life and dealt with that. Then she had to battle cancer, but she never gave up pushing and trying to get back onto that dancefloor.
“She’s meant to dance – she was born for it. So for her to be able to come back and with a bang – this number was phenomenal. It is so special to have her back, and everybody on the show is excited.
“It’s beautiful to see such a success story from something as difficult as cancer. You can survive it, and life can go back [to normal]” she continued, with Fleur – a contestant from the 20th series – adding that she was “so happy” to see Amy in her element again.
"It is so special to have her back."@JManrara on how happy everyone is to see @dowden_amy back on the #Strictly dance floor following her cancer treatment 🫶
Watch #TheOneShow live now 👉 https://t.co/xdQ6W9hz7I pic.twitter.com/fjfOoxsbJJ— BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) September 17, 2024
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The launch show saw Amy partnered with JLS member JB Gill for the new series. Fleur commenting on the pairings, saying: “It’s such a nice mixture of people. Just from the launch show, you’re watching them like a hawk – there’s going to be a lot of surprises from the celebrities.”
Janette and Fleur weren't the only ones to praise Amy following her return, with one fan writing on social media: “Seeing Amy Dowden back dancing brings me so much happiness #Strictly”.
Strictly Come Dancing will return on Saturday, September 14 on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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