Amy Dowden makes triumphant Strictly Come Dancing return after cancer battle
After her brave cancer battle, Dowden conquers the Strictly dance floor once again in the first episode
Strictly: Amy Dowden makes epic return to show
Amy Dowden was hoisted aloft on to the shoulders of her fellow pro dancers tonight in a rousing celebration of her return to Strictly Come Dancing in the series opener.
Following her cancer battle, the Welsh pro dancer, 34, was partnered by Aljaz in a pulsating dance routine among the glitter and sequins of Elstree Studios.
The audience were also on their feet throughout, cheering the dancers, and applauding Dowden.
Dowden joined the series in 2017, and in 2019 was a finalist in the 17th series with Karim Zeroual.
She bravely shared her cancer battle recently in a BBC documentary, Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which documented her journey from initial diagnosis, another scare, to her Strictly return this autumn.
Last night was the first episode of the 22nd series but the show, first presented by Bruce Forsyth, is actually celebrating its 20th year on the BBC.
Bruce Forsyth presented the hit show for nine years, along with Tess Daly. Now it’s helmed by Daly, with Claudia Winkleman.
Said Tess: “I have to pinch myself when I realise it’s been 20 years since starting work on this brilliant TV show I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of. None of us knew at the time if it would work, and none of us could’ve foreseen its stratospheric success.”
As the new line-up was showcased tonight on BBC One, there was no mention of the scandal over alleged abuse and bullying in the training room, which is still being investigated by the BBC.
Insider reports suggest more dancers may yet be embroiled in the scandal, continuing to cast a cloud over the show.
A BBC source told me: “We have nothing further to add.”
Tonight’s show put on a brave face on it, revealing the all-important pairings.
This year’s pairings are Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell; Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas; JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE; Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk; Paul Merson and Karen Hauer; Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał; Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez; Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec; Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova; Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones; Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin; Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola; Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu; Wynne Evans and Katya Jones.
