Amy Dowden Shares Cryptic Message Amid Brendan Cole's Remarks

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has shared a cryptic quote on social media regarding the importance of a "beautiful heart," hours after fellow professional Brendan Cole stated she "hasn't been doing a very good job" on the show. Cole's comments, made in an interview, suggested Dowden "hasn't been up to the challenge" of training a celebrity partner.

Dowden appeared to respond indirectly by re-sharing a quote on her Instagram Stories that read, "Honey, your heart is the most beautiful thing about you. Your empathy, your kindness, your sensitivity. Protect it." She also posted about a "beautiful day in the countryside" with her celebrity partner, Chris Appleton, sharing that she felt "so lucky to have" his companionship.

Cole, a former Strictly professional, expressed his opinion that Dowden had "not been up to the challenge" in recent years. He noted that she and her partners have been eliminated early in previous seasons, stating, "Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion. 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 further elaborated that "the job has not been done, and I don't think people are enjoying it."

Dowden and Appleton were the first professional-celebrity pairing eliminated from the current season of the BBC show following a dance-off. Dowden, who was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in May 2023, returned to Strictly in 2024 after undergoing treatment, including a mastectomy and further diagnosis of another type of cancer. She announced in February 2024 that she was cancer-free, though she continues with regular check-ups and treatment as part of a five-year recovery plan.

In a separate Instagram post on Monday, Dowden shared her emotions about her and Appleton's elimination, expressing pride in his journey and emphasizing the friendship they developed. "I honestly don’t think words can quite describe how proud I am of you... Seeing your Strictly journey come to an end is emotional, but what I’ll treasure most isn’t the result, it’s the friendship, memories and special moments we’ve shared along the way," she wrote. She concluded by stating, "Strictly may have brought us together as partners, but I truly believe it has given me a friend for life."