Strictly Come Dancing fans were left emotional on Saturday as Amy Dowden celebrated her return to the BBC show with a triumphant performance.
It seemed as if the 34-year-old professional dancer had never left the stage, making a glorious return to the ballroom after her brave battle with breast cancer.
Part of the new episode of the popular dance show was dedicated to Amy’s own performance, where she was accompanied by a host of talented dancers.
Amy, who is now cancer-free, looked a picture in a stunning fuchsia ball gown with feather embellishments as she twirled around and showed off her incredible moves.
Strictly fans have been eagerly awaiting the star’s return and wereted no time in rushing to X (formerly Twitter) to share their excitement. Many said they were ‘crying’ and ‘in tears of joy’ over the emotional episode. They wrote:
Strictly Come Dancing fans couldn’t contain their emotions on Saturday as Amy Dowden marked her return with a triumphant dance performance
The 34-year-old professional dancer never seemed to be off the stage – she made a glorious comeback to the ballroom after her brave battle with breast cancer
‘I literally have tears of joy at Amy’s dance. Did I turn 40 overnight? #Strictly’;
‘SEEING AMY AGAIN IS EVERYTHING #strictly’;
‘Fantastic to see Amy Dowden back #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly’;
‘THAT’S MY GIRL! What an inspiration Amy is! #Strictly’;
‘It’s so special to see Amy back on the dance floor. I immediately thought, “Why am I crying?” AMY DOWDEN WE LOVE YOU #strictly’;
‘So nice to see Amy where she belongs #Strictly’;
‘Great to see Amy Dowden back where she belongs on the dance floor and looking so happy and healthy #Strictly’;
‘Just seeing Amy made me cry, I’m so glad she’s back. #Strictly #scd’;
‘It’s so lovely to see Amy Dowden back on the dance floor. She’s been through hell and her family and friends must be so proud that she’s fought back and gotten healthy again. Keep fighting Amy, we love you #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing’;
This comes after Amy reveals that cancer has “changed her forever”, saying she will never take “anything for granted” again, as she was worried she “wouldn’t make it to Christmas”.
The Strictly Come Dancing star was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023 in what became the toughest year of her life
Strictly fans have been eagerly awaiting the star’s return and were quick to take to X (formerly Twitter) to share their excitement, with many saying they were ‘crying’ and ‘in tears of joy’ over the emotional episode.
Amy was a vision in a dazzling fuchsia ball gown with feather embellishments, twirling as she showed off her incredible moves
The Strictly star was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023. In what was to be the toughest year of her life, Amy underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and fertility treatments, and nearly died from sepsis.
In a new interview, Amy spoke about how she has a positive outlook on life now that she has survived the disease, admitting that she is no longer “angry” about the disease.
Speaking to Prima magazine about how her cancer experience has shaped her, Amy defiantly explained: ‘Cancer has changed me forever. I will never take anyone or anything for granted again, and I now know how valuable I am. Maybe you could have walked right over me in the past, but now I know how strong I am.’
The dancer discovered a lump in her breast the day before she left for her honeymoon in May last year, and after undergoing treatment she was given the green light this year.
Although the worst is behind her, the Welsh beauty candidly admitted there were times when she thought she wouldn’t survive the disease as she was overwhelmed by negative thoughts.
Amy spoke about the dark times she went through: ‘I would lie awake for hours thinking, “Am I going to make it to Christmas? Am I going to go dancing again?” I don’t go to bed worrying anymore.’
Amy positively shared that she has now put those thoughts behind her and that her experience with cancer has even helped her to worry less about Crohn’s disease, which had to take a ‘second place’ to cancer.
Part of the new episode of the hit dance show was dedicated to Amy’s own performance, where she was accompanied by a host of talented dancers
The star is now looking to the future and can’t wait to get back on the Strictly dancefloor later this year.
When she got to the other side, she said, “I got to the other side and I can’t be angry anymore. I can’t change what happened, I can only move on. I have the rest of my life ahead of me and I can’t give it any more time than it already has.”
Amy has also written a book, Dancing In The Rain, about her experiences. The blonde beauty talks about how important writing her book was to her healing process, as it gave her a ‘purpose’.
She said: ‘When you’re suffering from a chronic illness or cancer, you have this strange feeling that the world is turning without you. Your normality is taken away from you and you lose your purpose. Normally I’m such a busy bee, but I was waking up every day and not doing what I wanted to do, so the book gave me a purpose in what was a very lonely, dark time.’