Amy Dowden has bravely opened up on her fight to regain her health after battling cancer, admitting her rehab was “a lot harder” than she imagined.
The 34-year-old Strictly Come Dancing professional, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May last year, was welcomed back to the show this year after being given the all-clear in February.
However, she revealed that the journey back to fitness has not been easy, stating that she has had to learn not to compare herself to the Amy she was before.
In an emotional appearance on the Mirror’s Invite Only podcast, Amy, who was awarded an MBE in June, expressed her joy about returning, saying: “It has been so lovely to be back. I’m making the most of every week of rehearsals, every camera block, every dress run.
“I’m the one on stage shouting out: ‘Happy dress run everyone’ on a Friday. It’s the best feeling; I am super grateful to be back and what a lovely partner to be back with.”
Discussing her recovery, she candidly admitted: “I worked really, really hard on my rehab; it was a lot harder than I imagined, not gonna lie. The last several months of getting my body back… I’m still on that road, I guess.
“But I’m grateful for my body getting through it, and I try not to compare myself to Amy before, because I’m a new Amy now.”
Amy’s return to the ballroom was celebrated with a special pro dancer routine that she led in a bright pink dress.
Speaking in the rehearsal space, she said: “It was really special. The production team came to watch us at the end of the rehearsals, and at the end I just burst into tears. It was just so lovely, and lovely to dance with Aljaz (Skorjanec) too with him being back.
“On the night, my husband, my parents and my twin sister all came to watch, and it was the first time they had seen me dance since my cancer diagnosis. It was a really special moment; everyone was in floods of tears.”
Amy and her celebrity partner, singer JB Gill, topped the judges’ leaderboard after being awarded 31 points for their waltz to When I Need You by singer Leo Sayer on their debut episode.
On tonight’s episode the pair performed to Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, landing them third on the scoreboard with a score of 32.
Toyah and Neil and Paul & Karen scored the lowest points with 15 and 19 respectivley. Topping the leaderboard were Tasha and Aljaz with 34, while Sarah and Vito scored 33 alongside Shayne and Nancy, and Punam and Gorka.
Fans were thrilled to see Amy return.
“JB & Amy that Wonka dance sooo gorgeous!! Love the crossovers, Amy looked like Amy tonight, just smiling ear to ear. I’m so glad she is back,” one fan gushed.
