Login
Login

Amy Dowden

{{short description|Welsh dancer (born 1990)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox dancer

| name = Amy Dowden

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}

| image = Amy Dowden - 2023 (52720307368) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Dowden in 2023

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|8|10|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Caerphilly, Wales

| education =

| occupation = Professional dancer

| years_active =

| home_town =

| height =

| spouse = {{marraige |Benjamin Jones|3 July 2022}}

| children =

| website =

| current_group =

| former_groups =

| dances =

| module =

}}

Amy Dowden {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 10 August 1990) is a Welsh professional ballroom and Latin American dancer from Caerphilly, Wales, best known for her appearances on the BBC One television show Strictly Come Dancing. Dowden joined the series in 2017, and in 2019, she was a finalist in the seventeenth series with TV presenter Karim Zeroual. Dowden and her partner Ben Jones are former British National Latin Dance Champions. She has the Guinness World Record for the most back-Charleston kick-steps in 30 seconds (2022).

Early life

Dowden was born in Caerphilly, Wales, and began dancing at the age of eight.{{cite web|url=http://www.caerphillyobserver.co.uk/news/965080/caerphilly-dancer-becomes-first-welsh-professional-on-strictly-come-dancing/|title=Caerphilly dancer becomes first Welsh professional on Strictly Come Dancing – Caerphilly.Observer|date=27 June 2017|publisher=caerphillyobserver.co.uk |access-date=31 October 2017}} She has a twin sister{{cite web | url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a62445194/amy-dowden-interview/ | title=Strictly's Amy Dowden on her sister's support through breast cancer | date=30 September 2024 }} and an older brother.{{cite web | url=https://www.yours.co.uk/leisure/celebrity-tv/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amy-dowden/ | title=Everything you need to know about Amy Dowden | date=29 October 2024 }} Alongside her partner Ben Jones, she became British Open Latin Dance Champion in 2017, and the couple were the first all-British pair to win the championships in over 30 years. Other successes include becoming British Dance Federation Champions, English Closed Champions and Welsh Closed and Open Champions.{{Cite web|title=Amy Dowden|url=https://www.cloud9management.co.uk/amydowden|access-date=2021-06-15|website=cloud9|language=en}} Dowden is also a four-time British National Finalist, and a World Championship semi-finalist, and she remains one of the highest-ranking Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers in the UK.{{Cite web|title=BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Amy Dowden|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2nXjFzBvrgvH4sH1GzyddqD/amy-dowden|access-date=2021-06-15|website=BBC|language=en-GB}}

''Strictly Come Dancing''

Dowden is the first Welsh professional to take part in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing series.{{cite web|last1=Mainwaring|first1=Rachel|date=9 September 2017|title=Who is Strictly pro dancer Amy Dowden?|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/strictly-come-dancing-new-professional-13236991|access-date=31 October 2017|website=Wales Online}}

class="wikitable sortable" text-align:center;"
Series

! Partner

! Place

! Average
Score

15

|Brian Conley

|12th

|19.8

16

|Danny John-Jules

|9th

|28.3

bgcolor="silver"

|17

|Karim Zeroual

|2nd

|35.7

18

|JJ Chalmers

|6th

|28.0

19

|Tom Fletcher

|7th

|30.5

20

|James Bye

|11th

|25.5

bgcolor="lightgreen"

|22

|JB Gill

|{{efn|Dowden was forced to withdraw from the 22nd series after week 6 due to sustaining a foot injury, with Lauren Oakley subsequently replacing her as Gill's partner.}}

|30.3

;Notes

{{notelist}}

Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance

class="wikitable sortable collapsed"
style="text-align:Center; background:cc;"

!Dance

!Partner

!Highest

!Partner

!Lowest

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|American Smooth

| rowspan="5" | Karim Zeroual

| 38

| Brian Conley

| 22

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Argentine Tango

| 36

|

|

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Cha-cha-cha

| 31

| Brian Conley

| 19

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Charleston

| 39

| JJ Chalmers
James Bye

| 27

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Couple's Choice

| 38

| Tom Fletcher

| 31

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Foxtrot

| Karim Zeroual
JJ Chalmers
JB Gill

| 32

| James Bye

| 26

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Jive

| Karim Zeroual

| 40

| rowspan="2" | Brian Conley

| rowspan="2" | 21

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Paso Doble

| Tom Fletcher

| 38

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Quickstep

| Karim Zeroual

| 40

| Danny John-Jules

| 22

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Rumba

|JB Gill

|30

|

|

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Salsa

| Karim Zeroual

| 36

| Tom Fletcher

| 34

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Samba

| Danny John-Jules

| 27

| Karim Zeroual

| 26

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Showdance

| rowspan="2" | Karim Zeroual

| 39

|

|

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Tango

| 38

| Brian Conley

| 16

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Viennese Waltz

| JJ Chalmers

| 33

| Danny John Jules

| 27

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Waltz

| JB Gill

| 31

| JJ Chalmers

| 25

= Performances with Brian Conley =

In 2017, Dowden appeared as a professional dancer in the fifteenth series, partnered with comedian Brian Conley. They made it to week 5 of the competition.{{cite web|title=Strictly Come Dancing – Amy Dowden |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2nXjFzBvrgvH4sH1GzyddqD/amy-dowden |website=BBC|access-date=31 October 2017}}

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
style="text-align:Center; background:#ccc;"

! rowspan="2" | Week #

! rowspan="2" | Dance / Song

! colspan="5" | Judges' score

! rowspan="2" | Result

style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood

| style="width:10%; " |Bussell

| style="width:10%; " |Ballas

| style="width:10%; " |Tonioli

| style="width:10%; " |Total

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|1

|Tango / "Temptation"

|3

|4

|4

|5

|{{red|16}}

|No Elimination

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|2

|Cha-cha-cha / "Shake Your Groove Thing"

|3

|5

|5

|6

|19

|Bottom Two

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"

|3

|American Smooth / "If I Only Had a Brain"

|5

|5

|6

|6

|22

|Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"

|4

|Paso Doble / "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"

|4

|6

|6

|5

|21

|Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;"

|5

|Jive / "It's Not Unusual"

|4

|6

|6

|N/A

|{{red|16}}

|Eliminated

  • {{red|Red}} number indicates Brian & Amy were at the bottom of the leaderboard

= Performances with Danny John-Jules =

Dowden returned for her second series in 2018 where she was partnered with Danny John-Jules. The couple were awarded the first 10 score of the series by Darcey Bussell for their Jive to "Flip, Flop and Fly" in week 5. They were eliminated in week 8 after losing a dance-off to Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse; their elimination came days after controversial bullying allegations, with tabloids reporting that John-Jules had reduced Dowden to tears.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/11/11/strictly-come-dancing-2018-week-8-results-will-danny-john-jules/|title=Strictly Come Dancing 2018, week 8 results: Danny John-Jules eliminated in wake of bullying allegations|first=Michael|last=Hogan|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 November 2018|access-date=11 November 2018}}

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
style="text-align:Center; background:#ccc;"

! rowspan="2" | Week #

! rowspan="2" | Dance / Song

! colspan="5" | Judges' score

! rowspan="2" | Result

style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood

| style="width:10%; " |Bussell

| style="width:10%; " |Ballas

| style="width:10%; " |Tonioli

| style="width:10%; " |Total

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|1

|Foxtrot / "Top Cat (Theme Song)"

|6

|7

|7

|7

|27

|No Elimination

style="text-align:center;

|2

|Cha-cha-cha / "Beggin'"

|7

|7

|7

|7

|28

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|3

|Paso Doble / "The Greatest Show"

|6

|7

|7

|8

|28

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|4

|Viennese waltz / "I've Gotta Be Me"

|6

|7

|7

|7

|27

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|5

|Jive / "Flip, Flop and Fly"

|9

|10

|9

|{{blue|9}}

|{{green|37}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|6

|American Smooth / "Spirit in the Sky"

|6

|8

|7

|9

|30

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|7

|Quickstep / "Freedom"

|4

|6

|5

|7

|{{red|22}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|8

|Samba / "Feels Like Home"

|6

|7

|7

|7

|{{red|27}}

|Eliminated

  • {{blue|Blue}} score awarded by guest judge Alfonso Riberio
  • {{green|Green}} number indicates Danny & Amy were at the top of the leaderboard
  • {{red|Red}} number indicates Danny & Amy were at the bottom of the leaderboard

= Performances with Karim Zeroual =

In 2019, Dowden appeared as a professional dancer in the seventeenth series of the show, partnered with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual. The pair received the first perfect 40 of the series for their Jive in week 11.

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

! rowspan="2" | Week #

! rowspan="2" | Dance/Song

! colspan="5" | Judges' score

! rowspan="2" | Result

style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood

| style="width:10%; " |Mabuse

| style="width:10%; " |Ballas

| style="width:10%; " |Tonioli

| style="width:10%; " |Total

style="text-align:center;

|1

|Cha-Cha-Cha / "If I Can't Have You"

|8

|8

|7

|8

|31

|No Elimination

style="text-align:center;

|2

|Foxtrot / "The Way You Look Tonight"

|8

|8

|8

|8

|{{green|32}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|3

|Samba / "Kung Fu Fighting"

|6

|7

|6

|7

|26

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|4

|Tango / "Paradise"

|9

|10

|9

|10

|{{green|38}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|5

|Salsa / "Who Let the Dogs Out?"

|8

|10

|9

|{{blue|9}}

|36

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|6

|Paso Doble / "Smalltown Boy"

|7

|7

|7

|8

|29

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|7

|Quickstep / "Mr. Pinstripe Suit"

|9

|10

|10

|10

|{{green|39}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|8

|Viennese Waltz / "Give Me Love"

|6

|8

|8

|8

|30

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|9

|Charleston / "Happy"

|9

|10

|10

|10

|{{green|39}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|10

|Contemporary / "Drops of Jupiter"

|9

|9

|10

|10

|{{green|38}}

|Bottom Two

style="text-align:center;

|11

|Jive / "You Can't Stop the Beat"

|10

|10

|10

|10

| {{green|40}}

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|12

|Argentine Tango / "Libertango"
American Smooth / "Sweet Caroline"

|8
9

|10
10

|9
9

|9
10

|36
{{green|38}}

|Bottom Two

style="text-align:center;

|13

|Quickstep / "Mr. Pinstripe Suit"
Showdance / "A Million Dreams"
Jive / "You Can't Stop the Beat"

|10
9
10

|10
10
10

|10
10
10

|10
10
10

|{{green|40}}
39
{{green|40}}

|bgcolor=silver|Runner-up

  • {{blue|Blue}} score awarded by guest judge Alfonso Riberio
  • {{green|Green}} number indicates Karim & Amy were at the top of the leaderboard

{{clear left}}

=Performances with JJ Chalmers=

In the eighteenth series, Dowden partnered with television presenter JJ Chalmers. They finished in 6th place, reaching musical week. The scores for this series were out of 30.

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
rowspan="2" align="Center" |Week No.

!rowspan="2" align="Center" |Dance/Song

!colspan="3" align="Center" |Judges'Score

!rowspan="2" align="Center" |Total

!rowspan="2" align="Center" |Result

style= width="10%" align="Center" |Revel Horwood

! style= width="10%" align="Center" |Ballas

! style= width="10%" align="Center" |Mabuse

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |1

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Waltz / "What a Wonderful World"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |19

| style="text-align:centre; background:#faf6f6;" |No Elimination

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |2

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Paso Doble / "Believer"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |5

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |17

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |3

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Foxtrot / "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"-from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |24

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |4

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Jive / "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |4

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{blue|7}}

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{red|17}}

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |5

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Quickstep / "For Once in My Life"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{blue|9}}

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |25

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Viennese Waltz / "Rescue"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |25

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe

style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Charleston / "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"- from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{red|20}}

| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Eliminated

=Performances with Tom Fletcher=

In the nineteenth series, Dowden partnered with musician Tom Fletcher. On 26 September 2021, it was announced that both had contracted COVID-19 and would miss the following week's show.{{Cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/strictlys-amy-dowden-tom-fletcher-21682938 |title=Strictly's Amy Dowden and Tom Fletcher test positive for Covid |first=Kathryn |last=Williams |date=26 September 2021 |website=WalesOnline |access-date=26 September 2021}} On 21 November 2021, in week 9 of the competition, they were the eighth couple to be eliminated, after a dance-off against Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/strictly-results-tom-fletcher-2021-b1961635.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121203219/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/strictly-results-tom-fletcher-2021-b1961635.html |archive-date=2021-11-21 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=The latest star to leave Strictly has been named|date=November 21, 2021|website=The Independent}}

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

! rowspan="2" | Week #

! rowspan="2" | Dance/Song

! colspan="5" | Judges' score

! rowspan="2" | Result

style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood

| style="width:10%; " |Mabuse

| style="width:10%; " |Ballas

| style="width:10%; " |Du Beke

| style="width:10%; " |Total

style="text-align:center;

|1

|Cha-Cha-Cha / "September"

|4

|7

|5

|5

|21

|No Elimination

style="text-align:center;

|2

|No dance

| -

| -

| -

| -

| -

|Given bye

style="text-align:center;

|3

|Jive / "Johnny B. Goode"

|8

|8

|8

|8

|32

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|4

|Foxtrot / "Fly Me to the Moon"

|7

|8

|7

|7

|29

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|5

|Salsa / "Watermelon Sugar"

|8

|9

|9

|8

|34

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|6

|Tango / "Highway to Hell"

|7

|8

|7

|7

|29

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|7

|Paso Doble / "Amparito Roca"

|9

|10

|10

|9

|38

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|8

|Viennese waltz / "Iris"

|7

|8

|7

|8

|30

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|9

|Couple's Choice / "On My Own"

|{{blue|7}}

|8

|8

|8

|{{red|31}}

|Eliminated

  • {{blue|Blue score}} was awarded by Cynthia Erivo who filled in for Craig Revel Horwood as judge for week 9.
  • {{red|Red}} number indicates Tom & Amy were at the bottom of the leaderboard

=Performances with James Bye=

In the twentieth series, Dowden partnered EastEnders actor James Bye. They were eliminated in week 6 of the competition, finishing in 11th place.

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

! rowspan="2" | Week #

! rowspan="2" | Dance/Song

! colspan="5" | Judges' score

! rowspan="2" | Result

style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood

| style="width:10%; " |Mabuse

| style="width:10%; " |Ballas

| style="width:10%; " |Du Beke

| style="width:10%; " |Total

style="text-align:center;

|1

|Jive / "What I Like About You"

|6

|5

|5

|6

|22

|No Elimination

style="text-align:center;

|2

|Tango / "Bad Habits"

|5

|6

|6

|7

|24

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|3

|Cha-Cha-Cha / "Hooked on a Feeling"

|4

|6

|6

|6

|22

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|4

|Quickstep / "Don't Get Me Wrong"

|8

|8

|8

|8

|32

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|5

|Foxtrot / "Julia's Theme"

|6

|7

|6

|7

|26

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|6

|Charleston / "Bumble Bee"

|6

|7

|7

|7

|{{red|27}}

|Eliminated

  • {{red|Red}} number indicates James & Amy were at the bottom of the leaderboard

=Performances with JB Gill=

In the twenty-second series, Dowden partnered JLS singer JB Gill. In Halloween week, Dowden didn't appear in the results show due to her collapsing backstage following the main show, so JB appeared alone. She was transported to Barnet Hospital as a precautionary measure, but was later reported to be feeling better.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-27 |title=Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden rushed to hospital during show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3deemjg338o |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The following day, it was confirmed that professional dancer Lauren Oakley would take Dowden's place during her absence from the show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20656yy96yo|title=Strictly's Lauren Oakley steps in for Amy Dowden in training|date=28 October 2024|website=BBC News}} However, after week 7, it was confirmed Dowden was withdrawing from the series due to a foot injury, and Gill would dance with Oakley for the remainder of the series.{{Cite news |last=Grierson |first=Jamie |date=2024-11-04 |title=Injury forces dancer Amy Dowden to leave this year's Strictly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/nov/04/injury-forces-dancer-amy-dowden-leave-strictly |access-date=2024-11-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

! rowspan="2" | Week #

! rowspan="2" | Dance/Song

! colspan="5" | Judges' score

! rowspan="2" | Result

style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood

| style="width:10%; " |Mabuse

| style="width:10%; " |Ballas

| style="width:10%; " |Du Beke

| style="width:10%; " |Total

style="text-align:center;

|1

|Waltz / "When I Need You"

|7

|8

|8

|8

|{{green|31}}

|No elimination

style="text-align:center;

|2

|Cha-cha-cha / "Closer"

|7

|7

|6

|7

|27

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|3

|American Smooth / "Pure Imagination"

|7

|8

|8

|9

|32

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|4

|Rumba / "You Might Need Somebody"

|7

|8

|7

|8

|30

|Safe

style="text-align:center;

|5

|Jive / "Hey Ya!"

|7

|8

|7

|8

|30

|Bottom two

style="text-align:center;

|6

|Foxtrot / "Dancing in the Moonlight"

|7

|9

|8

|8

|32

|Safe

  • {{green|Green}} number indicates JB & Amy were at the top of the leaderboard

''Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special''

She danced with CBeebies presenter George Webster for the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Dance tours and other professional engagements

In 2019, Dowden headlined her own tour, 'Here Come The Girls', with fellow professional dancers Dianne Buswell and Chloe Hewitt.{{Cite web|title=Here Come the Girls – Strictly stars shine on the Hawth stage – review|url=https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/here-come-girls-strictly-stars-shine-hawth-stage-review-695868|access-date=2021-06-15|website=Crawleyobserver.co.uk|language=en}}

Dowden has also taken part in the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour since 2018. In 2020, she performed with a celebrity partner for the first time on tour, her 2019 partner Karim Zeroual.

In September 2024 Dowden announced her appearance at the 2025 'Dancing With The Stars Weekend' at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.{{cite web |title=5* Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing |url=https://www.donaheys.co.uk/events/wales-dancing-holiday/ |website=Donaheys.co.uk|date=6 January 2021 }}

Personal life

Dowden is married to Ben Jones, her professional dance partner, and together they run the Art in Motion dance school in Cradley Heath, West Midlands.{{cite news |title=Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden announces she's engaged to boyfriend Ben Jones |url=https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/wellbeing/relationships/strictly-amy-dowden-engaged-to-ben-jones-277422 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=Good to Know |date=11 January 2018}}

Dowden has suffered from Crohn's disease since she was a child. In May 2019, she spoke out about the effect the condition has had on her career as a professional dancer.{{cite news |last1=Mapstone |first1=Lucy |last2=Owen |first2=Cathy |title=Strictly dancer Amy Dowden reveals her health battle for the first time |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/strictly-come-dancing-amy-dowden-16232315 |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=Wales Online |date=6 May 2019}} In October 2020, the BBC aired a documentary about Dowden's experiences of living with the condition.{{Cite web|title=BBC One – Strictly Amy: Crohn's and Me|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000njmn|access-date=2021-06-15|website=BBC|language=en-GB}} The documentary won a BAFTA Cymru award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bafta.org/wales/awards/news/winners-announced-2021-british-academy-cymru-awards|title=Winners announced: 2021 British Academy Cymru Awards|date=October 24, 2021|website=Bafta.org}}

In May 2023, Dowden announced she had been diagnosed with grade III breast cancer.{{Cite web|url=https://theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/24/amy-dowden-breast-cancer-diagnosis-strictly-come-dancing|title=Strictly star Amy Dowden announces breast cancer diagnosis|work=The Guardian|date=24 May 2023|accessdate=24 May 2023}} She underwent a mastectomy.{{cite web |title=Amy Dowden shares update on Strictly Come Dancing future after breast cancer diagnosis |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/amy-dowden-strictly-cancer-update-2023-b2360139.html |website=The Independent|date=19 June 2023 }} In July of that year, Dowden revealed that she had received a second diagnosis of "another type of cancer", leaving her requiring chemotherapy and unable to take part in Series 21 of Strictly Come Dancing later that year.{{cite web |title=Strictly's Amy reveals her second cancer diagnosis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd1e7j8kqllo |website=BBC News |access-date=24 July 2023 |date=22 July 2023}} In August 2023, Dowden announced that she had contracted sepsis after finishing her first round of chemotherapy.{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/strictly-come-dancings-amy-dowden-reveals-sepsis-battle-during-chemotherapy-12949626?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter|title=Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden reveals sepsis battle during chemotherapy|work=Sky News|first=Niamh|last=Lynch|date=28 August 2023|accessdate=29 August 2023}} In November 2023, she revealed she had sustained a broken foot and therefore would play no further part in that year's series of Strictly, having made a cameo earlier on in the series, without her wig.{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden on hair loss trauma |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67081802 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 November 2023 |date=11 October 2023}}{{cite web |title=Amy Dowden's Strictly hopes dashed after breaking foot |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67445354 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 November 2023 |date=16 November 2023}} A month later, Dowden was hospitalised with a blood clot on her lung, which was described as a side-effect of her cancer.{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden's blood clot after chemo |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67587530 |website=BBC News |access-date=14 December 2023 |date=1 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing: the quarter-final results show – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/live/2023/dec/02/strictly-come-dancing-the-quarter-final-live?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-656b80878f0856ef8db6fd6d |website=The Guardian |access-date=14 December 2023 |date=3 December 2023}} In February 2024 she reported that her latest check up showed "no sign of the disease", although she wouldn't get an "all clear" for five years, and said she was looking forward to dancing on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. In August 2024, however, she revealed that tests had shown abnormalities in her breast following a routine check up.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=Strictly's Amy Dowden reveals new cancer scare |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm230zjgz8ro |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Dowden was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours for services to fundraising and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel disease.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c511l0j4l2po |title=Bates knighted as Staunton and Emin made dames|date=14 June 2024|accessdate=18 June 2024|publisher=BBC News}}

On 26 October 2024 Dowden was rushed to hospital, following a collapse after her routine, during the live Strictly Come Dancing competition. Dowden was still recovering in the hospital the following day and it was confirmed that her partner in the show, JB Gill, would perform with Lauren Oakley in the following week's show.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-28 |title=Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden to miss Saturday's show as Lauren Oakley stands in |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98dl3rxl9zo |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=BBC News}} She withdrew from the series on 4 November 2024, citing a foot injury.

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|id=9230218}}

{{Strictly Come Dancing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowden, Amy}}

Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:Welsh female dancers

Category:Welsh dancers

Category:British ballroom dancers

Category:21st-century British dancers

Category:People from Caerphilly

Category:People with Crohn's disease

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire