Grab a hanky – Amy Dowden’s dance show is going to be emotional
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has been teaching a couple who brought forward their wedding due to a cancer diagnosis to dance in a BBC series.
The Welsh professional dancer, 33, has previously spoken of how she felt robbed of the year she had planned after finding a lump in her breast in April before her honeymoon.
She 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.
Caerphilly-born
Dowden is returning to the dancefloor to help the public learn routines in the reality show Dare To Dance.
The second season will see a Wrexham FC-obsessed couple, who are getting married, and a cameo from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia creator Rob McElhenney, who co-owns the team with Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds.
Across the four-part series, Dowden will also meet a young woman who gave up dancing when she started to lose her sight and lost her confidence, a firefighter who has a secret love of dance, and two friends preparing to dance at a Windrush Day celebration.
Dowden said: “I am so delighted Dare To Dance is back. When I dance, I feel like I can overcome anything.
“It’s something I want more people to experience,
I really believe it can change your life.
“I was never going to let my diagnosis get in the way of what I love most and I am thrilled that my wonderful dance family could step in to ensure my wonderful students blew their family and friends away with their performance.”
Helping her will be Strictly professionals Dianne Buswell and Graziano Di Prima along with Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse.
Nick Andrews, senior head of commissioning,
BBC Cymru Wales, said:
“It’s terrific to have Dare To Dance back but grab a hanky, it’s emotional stuff.”
Dare To Dance will air on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer next month.