Amy Dowden’s Brave Waltz
Last year, Amy Dowden, a professional dancer from Wales, had to withdraw from the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, due to a stage three cancer diagnosis. The news of her being “cancer-free” a few months later brought immense joy to her and her loved ones. This year, she is set to return to the dance floor in the upcoming series of the show.
Amy’s courageous battle with breast cancer is the subject of a forthcoming BBC documentary. This film chronicles a 15-month period from her diagnosis to the moment doctors declared her cancer-free.
As the film and the new series of Strictly are about to grace the BBC screens, head judge Shirley Ballas expressed her admiration for Amy at this year’s TRIC Awards. She was effusive in her praise for Amy’s resilience and her triumphant return to the show.
Amy’s contributions to the fight against Crohn’s Disease have been recognized with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list. She serves as an ambassador for the charity Crohn’s Colitis UK.
The upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, marking its 20th season, promises special performances from past contestants, judges, and professional dancers. The list of professional dancers participating in the series has been confirmed, with 18 dancers, including fan-favorite Alja Škorjanec, set to take the stage. However, Giovanni Pernice will not be returning for this series.
The official celebrity line-up for 2024 remains a closely guarded secret, but there are speculations about potential participants, including Hannah Waddingham, Clive Myrie, Jill Scott, and Roman Kemp.
Sarah James, the Executive Producer, expressed her excitement about the upcoming series, stating that Strictly is all set to celebrate its two-decade-long journey of entertaining the nation in style.
Shirley Ballas said: “Amy Dowden, my girl, I think it is absolutely remarkable that she is back. She’s looking gorgeous and glamorous… MBE can we say?” She also added: “I couldn’t be more proud of a human being than I am of her, she’s absolutely spectacular.”
