It’s a time of uncertainty for many Strictly professionals, but Amy Dowden is planning for her return should she be offered a spot.
The star has overcome huge obstacles to get back to doing what she loves: dancing.
Amy was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 19, and has been in remission for breast cancer since last year.
The Caerphilly-born 35-year-old spoke to Metro about grabbing life, dodging karaoke and Reborn, her tour with reigning Strictly champion Carlos Gu.
In 2025 Amy was paired with Thomas Skinner in the dance competition – they were the first couple to leave.
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When asked about her ambitions now, she said: ‘If I’m asked back, I’d love to get to Blackpool on Strictly to prove to myself that I’m back to where I was before cancer.’
And it doesn’t stop there, Amy is thinking beyond being just a professional partner on the show: ‘I’d love to enjoy my tenth year on Strictly, then do some presenting down the line and, one day, maybe even join the judging panel.
‘I judge a lot of competitions around the UK and around the world and I’d be a nice Strictly judge: fair, honest and sympathetic.’
Of course, since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their shock exit from the show, there’s now a job going.
With speculation mounting around who could replace them, Metro asked Amy whether she thought it would be strange without the famous duo: ‘Of course, but the producers are amazing and the show will evolve.
‘What makes Strictly work is the format: people falling in love with the celebrities and watching their journey.
‘I always try to make my celebrity fall in love with dancing because, for them, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’
Amy’s latest partner’s time on Strictly was marred with some controversy. Thomas claimed to have received a tip off that he had in fact received more votes than it appeared.
A BBC spokesperson said at the time: ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week.’
They added: ‘Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation.’
Unlike some of her previous pairings, Thomas didn’t have any background in dancing. Whereas her 2024 partner, JB Gill, had a some experience throwing shapes while in boyband JLS.
‘All of them are challenges,’ Amy said.
‘And you never know. When last year’s line-up was announced, Karen Carney was odd-on to go out in week three or four.
‘Bill (Bailey), Chris (McCausland), Hamza (Yassim), no one imagined they’d win. I embrace it all.’
Amy took a break from the show in 2023 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She recently underwent a second mastectomy in November last year on advice from her medical team.
On top of this, she’s had a broken foot, sepsis, and blood clots. Amy reflected on whether she’d been very unlucky or very lucky: ‘A weird mix of both.’
‘A young lady, Nikki, lost her life to breast cancer when I was going through chemo and her motto was: go grab life.’
‘I’ve promised her and myself, that’s what I’ll do.
‘I’m still here, my hair has grown back, I’ve got my energy and dancing sparkle back and, when life is hard, I’m lucky enough to have family and friends around me.’
From her time on the flagship BBC show, she’s struck up a solid friendship with fellow professional Carlos.
On what makes them click, Amy told us: ‘We’ve known each other a long time and were rivals, but never bitter ones, always friends. He’s a beautiful soul who was there for me during my cancer journey.
‘He calls my mum and dad “mama and papa” and we really are like brother and sister.
‘We fight, we cry, we laugh and we don’t hold back – I’ll come downstairs in something and he’ll go, “Who told you you look good in that?!”. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
They’re back dancing together on tour with a 2026 leg of Reborn. Their website reads: ‘Back on stage following a triumphant and acclaimed debut season, Amy and Carlos share an intimate portrait of their lives and journeys, in which the inspirational and transformative power of dance shines through.’
Amy teased us with what to expect: ‘There’s going to be an empowering new group number, we’ve got Jake Leigh, who choreographed Carlos’s first-ever 40 in the Couples Choice, plus (Strictly singer) Andrea Grant and some new dancers.
‘With 24 dance numbers, there’s a lot to cram in, but Karen might be making an appearance at one or two venues too, who knows?’
The tour also involves singing, but Amy won’t be taking the mic: ‘I may be Welsh, but that doesn’t mean I’m a good singer!
‘Honestly, my karaoke number is the Hokey Cokey, because everyone’s dancing rather than listening to my singing.
‘So we dance while Carlos sings, which was quite a surprise to the audience – he’s really passionate about it.’
Reborn returns on May 29th in Dartford, then tours. See www.amyandcarlostour.co.uk for tickets.
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