Amy Dowden’s Strictly Come Dancing return confirmed after cancer diagnosis

Amy Dowden is returning to the Strictly ballroom (Picture: Getty Images)

Strictly Come Dancing’s 2024 line-up of professional dancers has been confirmed, with Amy Dowden returning to the ballroom.

The Welsh dancer, 33, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023 and had to miss out on being a competitor on Strictly during the latest series, which saw Vito Coppola and Ellie Leach lift the glitterball trophy.

Amy did however make surprise appearances which delighted fans, and has been keeping followers regularly updated with her treatment following her diagnosis.

She later returned to her BBC show Dare To Dance, and opened up about wanting to win Strictly this year, having shared her heartbreak at having to miss out because of her cancer and later breaking her foot.

Amy had previously been paired with Brian Conley, Tom Fletcher, and Karim Zeroual who she made it all the way to the final with.

And after weeks of rumours, she’s now been confirmed as part of this year’s line-up.

Celebrating the news, she said: ‘I’m so happy and grateful to be back on @bbcstrictly MY HEART IS SO HAPPY.

Amy plans on winning Strictly this year (Picture: Getty Images)

‘he best team on and off the dance floor. I can’t wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing!

‘Feel blessed and more excited than EVER. Bring it on! Thank you @bbcstrictly for your support always. Eeeeeekkk #amysback #strictlycomedancing #letsdothis #excited #cantwait #myheartissohappy.’

Her co-stars and fans rushed to support her in the comments with former Strictly star Jamie Borthwick writing: ‘Back where she belongs.’

‘Best news angel,’ Zoe Ball added, whilst The Traitors star Mollie Pearce also congratulated her.

Speaking at the end of last year’s series, which saw Amy make a triumphant return for the final, she said: ‘This show certainly brings joy to the nation. It’s bittersweet coming to the end for me as this has been my only bit of normality the past few months and given me the distraction and focus to be there on Saturdays when I could with the team.

‘My heart couldn’t be more full than it is for this show and everyone involved.’

Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola are reigning champions (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)

It’s also been confirmed, after much speculation, that Giovanni Pernice will not be returning.

The Italian dancer, 33, was said to have quit the show earlier this year after a series of accusations against his behaviour and teaching methods.

Last month it was reported that the BBC was launching an investigation into his behaviour and reports that his former partners, believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore, and Ranvir Singh met to ‘compare notes’ about their experiences with him on the show.

It’s since been confirmed he will not be joining the other dancers on Strictly this year, after winning the competition with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.

Giovanni Pernice will not be returning to Strictly (Picture: Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/REX/Shutterstock)

Rose and Giovanni won Strictly in 2021 (Picture: PA)

Amy will instead be joined by Celebrity Big Brother star Nikita Kuzmin – who made it to the final last year with Layton Williams, and reigning champion Vito.

The full line-up includes: Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

As Strictly celebrates two years of glitz and glamour, hosts Tess Daly and The Traitors’ Claudia Winkleman will be returning, as will judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke.

Sarah James, Executive Producer said: ‘This year Strictly marks two decades of entertaining the nation and we will be back with a bang in September as we celebrate in style with our incredible team both on and off screen.’

Since announcing her cancer, Amy has provided updates when she underwent a mastectomy, and fertility treatment, and has since been sharing how she’s embracing her new body and scars.

Claudia and Tess will be taking to the stage as hosts once again (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

Amy will be joining the Strictly family again this year (Picture: SplashNews.com)

Amy told Instagram followers on New Year’s Eve: ‘I feel I was robbed of the year I had planned and reflecting for me makes me upset and angry but later I’m going to make myself look through my camera roll and remember all the good times, the amazing opportunities I had, family time but also taking time to realise I learnt the most this year.’

She continued, explaining that she ‘experienced rock bottom, felt I lost my identity and dancing’.

However, Amy felt that she became ‘a stronger, braver person who I’m taking forward with me to 2024’.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

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