Strictly's Amy Dowden opens up on 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC return

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden opened up on BBC Breakfast about her cancer recovery as well as her return to the ballroom later this year.

The Welsh professional dancer appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to speak to hosts Charlie Stayt and Rachel Burden about her documentary Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me.

She decided to film the honest show, which premieres on Monday, August 26, after seeing the “impact” her previous Crohn’s disease documentary had on raising awareness.

“I saw firsthand the rewards from that and I guess had I not done my Crohn’s documentary, I don’t think I ever would have done this one, I wouldn’t have had the confidence.

“I guess I was trying to turn such a negative, difficult period of my life into some sort of positive and thinking, well, if I can raise awareness that checking yourself and early detection can save lives, it’s so important, and if 10 people watch my documentary start checking themselves, I might save one life.”

Strictly's Amy Dowden opened up about 'hurtful' trolls, her cancer recovery and BBC return (Image: BBC)

Presenter Rachel Burden then gave a personal insight, replying: “Well it’ll be more than that, because straight away as I was watching it, I was checking myself immediately, it’s almost an instinctive reaction, isn’t it?”.

And while the 34-year-old spoke of the countless supportive messages and having an “online community” of women going through the same ordeal, it hasn’t all been positive.

Charlie Stayt addressed the trolls that had been targeting Amy online with “disgusting” comments which she talks extensively about in the documentary.

She replied: “It’s not OK and there’s no textbook on how to deal with any diagnosis, it doesn’t have to be cancer or life in general.

Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me premieres on Monday, August 26, at 8pm on BBC One. (Image: BBC)

“You’ve got to do what’s right for you. People shouldn’t be able to hide behind a keyboard.

“I remember being so low and up in the middle of the night, because of the steroids I was on during chemo.

“Just feeling so low and not being able to dance with my best friends on Strictly and some of those messages were just so hurtful, so upsetting.

“You never know what someone is going through and I just feel there’s not enough awareness out there, there’s no punishment for anybody.

“No one is learning, be kind, it’s free. If we can be anything in the world, be kind.”

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Amy Dowden will be returning to Strictly Come Dancing later this year. (Image: BBC)

Amy was initially diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in May 2023, after finding a lump in her breast the day before she went on honeymoon with husband Benjamin Jones.

But after ongoing chemotherapy, she shared in February 2024 that there was “no evidence of disease” and it was announced in June she would be returning to Strictly Come Dancing this year.

Talking about her Strictly comeback, Amy beamed: “That’s what kept me going through all the treatment and everything, getting myself back on the dancefloor, I’m someone who needs a goal.

“I have just been loving it, it feels like my first year again…it’s my happy place and actually, since being back at Strictly, I felt like Amy again to be honest with you.

“I’m just so excited to be back again, we’ve been working super hard for the series and I can’t wait for everyone to see.”

Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me premieres on Monday, August 26, at 8pm on BBC One.

Strictly's Amy Dowden opens up on 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC return

Strictly's Amy Dowden opens up on 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC return

Strictly's Amy Dowden opens up on 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC return

Strictly's Amy Dowden opens up on 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC return

Strictly's Amy Dowden opens up on 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC return