Amy Dowden hopes to dance again by end of month

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has said she could be dancing again by the end of the month.

Dowden had to pull out of this year's 20th anniversary series after suffering an "insufficiency stress fracture" on her shin two weeks ago.

Speaking to Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales, Dowden said she was heartbroken after "more bad luck", having missed out on the show last year while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Dowden clarified her injury is completely unrelated to previous health scares, adding that she needs to rest but hopes to return.

Dowden said she is undergoing physio for her injury and can walk on it, with doctors hopeful she could be dancing again by December.

It has been a bout of bad luck for the Caerphilly-born dancer, as she fractured her foot soon after finishing chemotherapy.

She said the recent injury is "totally different injury to the previous one" which she said could have happened to anybody.

"The doctor is saying I could be back dancing by the end of November so that’s what is keeping me going," she said.

"I am focusing on that, focusing on getting back on the dancefloor with Carlos and coming to Wales for our tour in Cardiff."

Dowden and fellow professional Carlos Gu kick off their Reborn UK tour in March next year, with two nights at the Welsh capital.

Dancer Lauren Oakley took Dowden's place in the competition, pairing up with celebrity partner, JLS singer JB Gill.

Dowden spoke of being "so proud" of JB, who scored 39 points in a Bruno Mars medley with Oakley on Saturday.

She said she has high hopes the pop star will make it to the final.

"I knew he would do well," said Dowden, "I saved a lot of dances for the back end of the series which I knew would suit him and his style of dance."

When asked about Radio Wales presenter and Strictly contestant Wynne Evans, she said they have a "special Welsh connection" and he has been a great support to her.

"I saw him on Wednesday and he said sorry for my injury, he knew not to say more, I had a cry and he gave me a big welsh cwtch.

"He is embracing everything as a non-dancer, he has never danced before."

Dowden said Wales need to get behind him as "there is no reason why he can’t go all the way".

“I am super proud of a fellow Welshy," she said.

According to Dowden, the competition this year has been the strongest it has ever been, and any of the nine remaining couples could make the final.

Dowden was initially diagnosed with stage three breast cancer aged 32 in May 2023, after finding a lump in her breast the day before she went on her honeymoon.

She opened up about her ordeal with breast cancer in a BBC documentary, Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which was broadcast in September.