Amy Dowden tearfully addresses Strictly experience with Thomas Skinner after 'difficult' period

Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden has opened up about working with reality star Thomas Skinner on the BBC show after becoming the first pairing to be eliminated this series. The Welsh professional dancer was paired with Thomas Skinner on this year's series, marking her return to Strictly after dropping out of the 2024 series with a foot injury.

Amy missed the series before to focus on recovering from battling grade three breast cancer and another type of cancer. She shared in February 2024 that a check-up showed "no sign of the disease", allowing her to return to the BBC show that year.

Now, Amy has opened up about 'losing all confidence as a dancer' after a tough three years - and how Tom helped to bring it back. Speaking to Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly after being eliminated from the show, Amy said: "I’ve got to know the real Tom, and he is adorable. He’s looked after me.

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"We’ve laughed so much. We’ve worked so hard and a glitterball would have been amazing but what I’ve learnt in the last few years is happiness, health and being alive is more important than anything.

"I’ve made a new friend for life and I wouldn’t change a thing. There is a Ballroom boy in there so I’m a bit gutted he didn’t get to do the Ballroom, but the last three years as you know have been quite difficult for me."

She added: "I lost all confidence as a dancer - but walking into the room with you with a massive smile and a laugh, you brought me back and, honestly, thank you.”

Back in September, Strictly fans were left fuming when Amy was revealed to have been partnered with controversial contestant Tom - with many saying that she'd "been through enough". One wrote: "Poor Amy. She is really due a break #strictly."

The pair went on to perform a Paso Doble in last weekend's live show before returning to the dance floor for a Salsa to the Dizzee Rascal hit Bonkers. The dances landed him towards the bottom of the leaderboard with a joint score of 29 - just four points above Ross King, who has the fewest points with 25.

Speaking on It Takes Two earlier this week, Tom revealed that he's lost one stone just from a few weeks of training. "I'll be honest with you, I've lost a stone since starting Strictly. I'm a stone lighter," he said.

"I feel no different. I can't wait to get back in the café. No honestly, I have lost weight and I've noticed my trousers are getting a little bit bigger. I'm learning a skill, which is dancing, and once you know how to do it, it's amazing. They [the professionals] are in a different class. I do it, it's not so good. But I am trying and I am getting there."

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