Dowden Accuses Cole of Attention Seeking Amid Strictly Criticism

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has publicly accused former competitor Brendan Cole of seeking attention with his critical remarks about her dance abilities following her cancer treatment. Dowden stated that Cole's comments were "upsetting and cruel" and expressed that he "desperately craves attention."

Speaking at the Pride of Britain Awards, Dowden, 36, revealed that Cole had not contacted her directly, despite having her phone number. She suggested that the "decent thing to do" would have been for him to reach out, especially given the nature of the headlines discussing her post-cancer performances.

"Rather than him worry about what the headlines were saying about himself it would've been nice for him to call. He's got my number," Dowden told the Daily Mail. "Some of those headlines were quite upsetting, he said I've not done a good job since my cancer."

When asked if she had heard from Cole, she responded, "Nothing, I've not heard from him. It's fine, I don't expect anything else." She further elaborated on the perceived gendered nature of criticism, stating, "I don't know, I just don't want to give him the attention he so desperately craves."

Mention of the criticism followed Cole's comments to Sky Vegas, where he stated that Dowden had "not been up to the challenge" of being a professional on Strictly, particularly after her first-round elimination with celebrity partner Chris Appleton this season. He also noted her counting steps through their routine as an example of her performance.

James Jordan, a friend of Cole's and former Strictly professional, acknowledged that a private message might have been more appropriate, telling the Daily Mail, "What he should have done in hindsight, I suppose, was find Amy's number and send her a message." Jordan maintained that Cole's remarks were focused on choreography rather than Dowden's health.

Dowden, who missed the 2023 Strictly season due to a breast cancer diagnosis, mastectomy, and chemotherapy, announced in February 2024 that she had "no evidence of disease." She returned to the show in autumn of the same year but a foot injury led to her withdrawal from the competition, with fellow professional Lauren Oakley stepping in. Dowden had previously been eliminated in the first round of the 2022 season with businessman Thomas Skinner.

Dowden initially responded to the criticism via an Instagram post featuring her miming to Mariah Carey's "Obsessed," with the caption "If you know, you know #bekind #inaworldyoucanbeanythingbekind."