Strictly professional dancer Amy Dowden has drawn widespread praise for her composed response to criticism from former cast member Brendan Cole, who questioned her readiness for the demanding role on the long-running dance competition.
Dowden, who has spoken candidly about her battle with breast cancer, was eliminated first in the 2026 series alongside her celebrity partner Chris Appleton. Cole, who appeared on the show from 2004 to 2017, subsequently claimed in an interview that Dowden was "not up to" the challenge, stating:
"To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge. Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion."
Rather than engaging in a direct confrontation, Dowden posted a video on social media that viewers and fellow professionals have described as a masterclass in handling negativity. The clip features her miming the opening line from Mariah Carey's track Obsessed while blowing a kiss at the camera and asking:
"Why are you so obsessed with me?"The post carried a cryptic caption reading "If you know, you know" alongside hashtags promoting kindness.
Cole's assessment extended beyond a single comment. He elaborated on his position, saying:
"I don't think Amy's been doing a very good job for the last few years and she's been out first for the last few years. One can do the maths on that."He also suggested that Dowden's visible counting cues to her partners indicated the "job has not been done."
Dowden's measured response generated an outpouring of support from fans and colleagues alike. Current and former Strictly professionals including Aljaž Škorjanec, Dianne Buswell, Kevin Clifton and Carlos Gu publicly backed her, while Appleton commented simply: "Love you." Presenter Stacey Dooley left gold medal emojis under the post, and actress Sarah Hadland, a former Strictly contestant, wrote: "beautiful inside and out."
A career marked by resilience
Dowden made history in 2017 as Strictly's first Welsh professional dancer. Her journey took a dramatic turn in 2023 when, at age 32, she was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer after discovering a lump the day before her honeymoon. She has been remarkably open about her treatment, which included two mastectomies, chemotherapy, and fertility procedures.
Throughout her recovery, Dowden has credited dancing with sustaining her through the most difficult periods.
"Even when I couldn't dance, even being able to watch it made me feel so much better as well,"she previously explained. Her return to the show in 2024 was cut short by a foot injury that forced her to withdraw early from the competition.
In 2025, Dowden was again eliminated first, this time partnered with businessman Thomas Skinner. The pattern repeated in 2026 when she and Appleton, a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with figures including Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, lost the dance-off to actor Jaime Winstone and professional dancer Carlos Gu. According to reports on their performances, their Movie Week cha-cha-cha earned 17 points while their opening tango scored 16.
Speaking on Strictly's It Takes Two programme, both Dowden and Appleton became emotional as they reflected on their elimination. Dowden expressed that she was "gutted" their partnership had ended prematurely, noting that Appleton's confidence had "grew and grew" throughout their time together.
"I honestly think there was so much more to come,"she said.
Appleton reciprocated the sentiment, describing his initial nervousness and how Dowden's presence steadied him.
"I'd literally go out there shaking and there's times I didn't know if I could do it, but I did it. I would just look at Amy and see her smiling and knew she was with me."
Recent developments and what comes next
Since their elimination, Dowden and Appleton have continued to demonstrate their chemistry. On Sunday 11 October, the pair performed the iconic lift from Dirty Dancing in an Instagram video, with Appleton writing in the caption: "No one puts Amy in the corner." The post underscored the bond they had formed during their time on the show.
The remaining couples in the 2026 series are scheduled to perform on Saturday 17 October, with the programme airing from 6:15pm on a national broadcaster's television channel and streaming service. As the competition progresses without her, Dowden's dignified response to Cole's criticism has become a talking point in its own right, with many observers noting that her actions spoke louder than any verbal rebuttal could have.
