Brendan Cole Criticizes Amy Dowden's "Strictly" Performance Post-Cancer Battle

Former "Strictly Come Dancing" professional Brendan Cole has expressed that Amy Dowden has "hasn't been doing a very good job" as a dancer on the show following her return after a battle with breast cancer.

Dowden and her celebrity partner Chris Appleton were the first pair eliminated from the BBC show for the second consecutive year, after finding themselves in the dance-off on Sunday. Cole, who was a professional on "Strictly" from 2004 to 2017, suggested that Dowden has not been "up to the challenge" of training a celebrity. He noted that she has been the first professional eliminated in recent years.

"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," Cole told Sky Vegas. He elaborated, "She's standing out there counting him in. She's counting every step for him. It's very obvious that the job has not been done, and I don't think people are enjoying it."

Amy Dowden was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023 and underwent a mastectomy. Later, she discovered she had another type of cancer elsewhere in her body. She was forced to miss the 2023 "Strictly" season.

Dowden returned to the show in 2024. She was paired with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, but they were the first couple eliminated. In a prior season, she was partnered with JB Gill, but had to withdraw midway through the series after collapsing backstage. In February 2024, Dowden announced she was officially cancer-free, though she continues with regular check-ups and treatments as part of her five-year recovery plan.

Following her recent elimination, Dowden shared a message on Instagram expressing pride in her partner Chris Appleton. "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. "From the nerves, the laughter and the endless rehearsals to the moments when things felt tough, you gave everything you had... Strictly may have brought us together as partners, but I truly believe it has given me a friend for life."