Amy Dowden saddened by Brendan Cole's 'personal' Strictly Come Dancing jibe
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden was saddened by the "personal" attack from former pro dancer Brendan Cole, who claimed that she hasn't been "up to the challenge" since returning to the BBC show after recovering from breast cancer.
Amy Dowden was saddened by Brendan Cole's "personal" attack following her early exit from Strictly Come Dancing.
The outspoken former Strictly professional claimed that Amy – who returned to the BBC's Saturday night staple in 2024 after beating breast cancer – hasn't been "up to the challenge" on the show after she and celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton were the first couple to be eliminated from this year's series, but the dancer won't give Brendan "the attention he desperately craves".
Amy told Closer magazine: "I'm sad it was so personal. It wasn't just about the dancing, it was personal. But I don't want to give him the attention he so desperately craves."
The 36-year-old dancer admits that she is particularly disappointed that Brendan, 50, didn't contact her following the headlines generated by his criticism.
Amy, who was also eliminated first from the 2025 series of Strictly with former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, said: "Why not pick up the phone and check how I was after those headlines? I haven't heard from him, but it's fine, I don't expect anything else."
However, Dowden – who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 – does have a supporter in Catherine, Princess of Wales – who herself was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in 2024 and is now in remission.
The Welsh dancer said: "I met her when I was receiving my cancer treatment and she was asking if there was anything she could do."
Amy revealed that it was Catherine's daughter Princess Charlotte, 11, who was particularly excited to meet her as she is a "big fan" of Strictly Come Dancing.
She explained: "Princess Charlotte is a big fan of Strictly.
"When I went to Kate's carol concert, Charlotte walked in and was pointing at me, and Kate had to come back and say, 'Oh, Charlotte recognised you straight away and had to say hello', which was so sweet."
Meanwhile, Amy believes it is hard to pick a winner for this year's series of Strictly as the competition starts heating up.
She said: "It's so close this year. However, there's so many to pick from; Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Cach Mercer and Jaime Winstone – they're all fabulous!"
