If anyone deserves a happy and healthy 2025, it’s Amy Dowden. Following a breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023 at the age of just 32 – not long after her honeymoon to the Maldives with husband Ben Jones – the brave Strictly Come Dancing star underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy. She was then dealt another cruel blow when she suffered a near-fatal sepsis infection during treatment.
Last year, though, it looked like Amy’s luck was turning. Not only was she given the all-clear by doctors, but she made a glittering return to the BBC dance competition for its 20th anniversary show with JLS singer JB Gill. But just a couple of months into training, she was forced to pull out with a fractured foot.
Now, after making a recovery, the Caerphilly-born star – who has also spoken at length about her experience with Crohn's disease in her BBC documentary Strictly Amy: Crohn's and Me – is looking forward to beginning a new chapter. Last month, Amy returned to dance with JB in the Strictly Live Tour, and in March, she’s hitting the road with her dance partner Carlos Gu for their own live tour. She chats to heat about health, happiness and inspirational mottos…
You’ve been on one hell of a journey. Do you ever get angry or have ‘why me?’ moments?
I've had loads of them. But I focus on the saying ‘don't get bitter, get better’. And I guess what’s been lovely is knowing I've got this tour coming up. I can't wait to be back, entertaining audiences with my best friend, Carlos.
Has your foot fully recovered now?
My injury is so much better. I’m back training and doing the Strictly Live Tour with JB, and I’ve made a good recovery.
It must have been devastating to pull out of Strictly?
Yeah, it was. The rehab was harder than I ever imagined. And there were points where I didn't think I was going to get back on the dancefloor, where I thought, ‘I can't do this anymore’. I was utterly devastated and heartbroken about the injury. It seemed that I had all of the bad luck in the world.
Have you discovered anything about yourself through all of this?
Yeah, I think I’ve discovered who my true friends are, and I also appreciate that bald is beautiful and that people don’t see me any differently. When I lost my hair, my eyebrows and my eyelashes, it was hard because, as a dancer, there’s a lot of focus on your image. But it's your soul that shines through, not the aesthetics.
You and your husband clearly have a solid relationship. How has he coped?
He saw the good, the bad and the ugly, and that was tough on him. But Ben always knew I would get through it, and he kept telling me that. He was always Mr Positive.
You are a very naturally positive person, too…
Yes, I am. I think I've had to be, really, with my Crohn's disease. But it was the Crohn’s that gave me my determination – I wanted to be known as Amy the dancer, not Amy with Crohn's disease.
Has your relationship with your body changed since your treatment?
I put two stone on during chemo and my cancer diagnosis, through a combination of medication, breaking my foot and being unable to dance. I haven't pushed myself to lose it, though, because my body went through its toughest battle yet and survived, so I'm proud of it. But would I say I'm confident in my body? Absolutely not, but I'm learning to be.
What's next for you?
At the moment I'm absolutely loving dancing, and that's where I want to be. But I would love to do some more presenting. Having cancer has completely changed me – it’s made me see life in a different way. It's made me realise I need to grab hold of life and take every opportunity.
Amy & Carlos: Reborn is at Birmingham Symphony Hall on 10 March, before touring the UK - amyandcarlostour.