Welsh dancer Amy Dowden has revealed that she initially declined the opportunity to join the iconic BBC dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing. The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in 2023, first graced the Strictly ballroom in 2017 but was offered a place on the show a year earlier.
During a recent appearance on The One Show, Dowden discussed her new documentary, "Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me," and her upcoming autobiography, "Dancing in the Rain." When questioned about her initial refusal of the Strictly opportunity, Dowden confirmed that there was a "good reason" for turning down the offer.
"I know," she responded to host Alex Jones, who inquired about Dowden being the first professional dancer to decline a Strictly spot. She went on to say that while she should have joined the show in 2016, she ultimately accepted the offer in 2017. Dowden urged viewers to read her book to discover the reason behind her initial decision.
Since joining Strictly in 2017, Dowden has partnered with six celebrities: Brian Conley, Danny John-Jules, Karim Zeroual, JJ Chalmers, Tom Fletcher, and James Bye. Her most successful partnership was with Karim Zeroual, who reached the final with Dowden in 2019. However, the series was won by Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse.
Following a year-long absence while undergoing treatment for breast cancer, Dowden is set to return to the Strictly dance floor later this month. Her new documentary, "Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me," will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Monday, 26 August at 8pm.
