Shirley Ballas gave Welsh ballroom dancer Amy Dowden a heartwarming welcome back to Strictly Come Dancing, leaving the audience on their feet. After Amy’s first performance back on the show following her cancer treatment, Shirley simply said, “Amy, you’re home.” Amy, who joined the cast of Strictly in 2017, had to sit out last year’s series due to her recovery from stage three breast cancer. Her return to the dance floor was a poignant moment for her and fans alike.
Earlier this year, Amy shared the news that her latest health check had shown “no evidence of disease” after her breast cancer treatment. Tonight’s performance was a significant milestone for the dancer, who was eager to get back to dancing after her challenging journey. Paired with celebrity contestant JB Hill from JLS, Amy performed an emotional Waltz to the song “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer. Despite the emotional performance, Amy and JB received positive feedback from the judges.
Following their dance, judge Motsi Mabuse intervened when Craig began to give negative feedback, reminding him to focus on the joy in the performance. Shirley praised Amy for her outstanding choreography and commended JB for being an excellent partner, predicting an “epic partnership” between the two. Amy expressed her joy at being back on the show, saying, “I’m so happy I could burst.” The pair received one of the highest scores of the night, with a total of 31 from the judges.
This emotional and inspiring comeback by Amy Dowden has captured the hearts of Strictly Come Dancing viewers. The support and encouragement from Shirley Ballas and the judges have set the stage for what promises to be a remarkable journey for Amy and JB on the dance floor. Fans are eagerly anticipating more memorable performances from this talented duo as they continue to shine on the Strictly stage.