Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden reveals she is feeling ‘fitter and stronger than ever’ ahead of return

Professional dancer Amy Dowden has given a positive health update, saying she is feeling “fitter and stronger than ever right now” as she continues her recovery from breast cancer and prepares for her ongoing return to Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden says she feels “fitter and stronger than ever” after undergoing treatment for stage three breast cancer. Dowden was diagnosed in 2023, underwent chemotherapy and two mastectomies, and received a “no evidence of disease” clearance in early 2024. She’s still regaining her strength but is now busy with dance tours and preparing for a future series of the BBC show.

Veteran professional dancer Amy Dowden from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing has spoken about her recovery journey after treatment. The dancer told the media she is “fitter and stronger than ever right now” as she works to rebuild her physical condition.

Though Dowden is back in the ballroom and on stage, she made it clear the recovery has been more complicated than she first imagined. “Getting back into dance classes and tours of the theater has been vital to helping me through hard times,” she said.

“I was very deluded – I literally thought I’d be ringing the bell and my life would come back,” Dowden told MailOnline. Dowden candidly reflected on her recovery, admitting that her hopes for life after treatment weren’t realistic at first. “I didn’t expect or understand the journey of recovery and how long it was going to take, both physically and mentally, and I wish I had more preparation for that.

She said her job has a stabilizing effect, yet she knows there may still be rough years ahead. “Especially this year, just throwing myself into that, taking dance classes, being on theater tours, being able to do now what I love most, what makes me happy is what has got me through some tough times,” she added.

Dowden has also spoken in the past to Woman Magazine about the emotional impact of changes to the Strictly lineup and the vital “escapism” it provides for viewers and participants alike – something she valued highly when she was on the chemotherapy ward.

Dowden has brought great exposure to breast cancer awareness, particularly for younger women, with her decision to go public with her health journey. She has helped debunk the myth that life returns to normal once cancer treatment is complete, by sharing both the victories and the hard realities of life after treatment. Her openness gives others who are going through similar long-term physical and mental rehabilitation a sense of validation and support.

Amy Dowden is still a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. As she continues with her long-term recovery and bone health training, she has made it clear that her focus is to prove to herself that she is “back” and to achieve key milestones in the competition such as the iconic Blackpool Tower ballroom. The BBC has yet to announce the full celebrity line-up for the next series, but Dowden has said she prefers to ignore speculation and embrace the surprise of the official pairings.