Strictly star Amy Dowden reveals how she is keeping hopes alive of one day becoming a mother

After almost two years of trauma, Strictly dancer Amy Dowden is clinging to the hope that she will one day become a mother.

After being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023, followed by grueling chemotherapy, she revealed yesterday that she has frozen five embryos to realize her dream of a family.

Ms Dowden, 34, who also had a mastectomy, announced last February that she had ‘no evidence of illness’.

Before her chemotherapy, she underwent an egg retrieval procedure to give her and her husband, fellow dancer Benjamin Jones, a chance at having children.

Speaking about the What if? podcast with Lorraine Kelly and her daughter Rosie, the professional dancer, said: ‘Of course we would love to have a family, and we have embryos because I have a hormone-fueled cancer, so I was put into early menopause.

“So in a few years, when they feel like it’s safe, hopefully we’ll get the opportunity. And if not, there are plenty of other options, which we’ve talked about. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to become parents in the coming years.’

Mrs Dowden said she had undergone an egg retrieval procedure to give her and her husband, fellow dancer Benjamin Jones, a chance at having children. Pictured: Mrs Dowden dancing with Tom Fletcher

Mrs Dowden will be dancing with JB Gill on Strictly Come Dancing on October 19

Ms Dowden was forced to quit Strictly in spring 2023 after discovering a lump in her breast the day before her honeymoon

Ms Dowden, who also has the bowel condition Crohn’s disease, was forced to quit Strictly in the spring of 2023 after discovering a lump in her breast the day before her honeymoon.

But her return to the BBC show last year also came to an abrupt end.

Together with singer JB Gill, she had to leave early with a broken tibia. She said, “Honestly, you can’t write my bad luck.” However, she and Gill are dancing together again this month on the Strictly live tour.