Amy Dowden almost quit Strictly before Celebrity Hunted
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has revealed she almost quit the BBC show after hitting an “ultimate low,” but husband Ben and pro dancer Carlos Gu talked her out of hanging up her shoes. She now teams with Gu on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer.
Key Takeaways
- Amy Dowden says she nearly quit Strictly after an “ultimate low” in 2024.
- Husband Ben and Strictly pro Carlos Gu urged her to keep dancing.
- She pairs with Gu on Celebrity Hunted, airing 3 August on Channel 4.
- The series is filmed in aid of Stand Up To Cancer and shows her treatment reality.
- Dowden has confirmed her return to Strictly for the 2026 series.
Why did Amy Dowden almost quit Strictly?
The Welsh professional dancer, 35, told The Mirror she reached an “ultimate low” after being forced to pull out of Strictly in 2024 following an ankle injury.
She had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023, later discovered a second type of cancer, and underwent treatment before returning to the ballroom — only to suffer the setback that ruled her out of that series.
“It was Carlos and Ben, my husband, who gave me that tough love, that motivation to make sure I didn’t,” Dowden said. “If it wasn’t for them, I truly was gonna hang up my dancing shoes. It was only then I really knew how low I was in my life.”
What is Amy Dowden doing on Celebrity Hunted?
Dowden has been announced for Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted, teaming up with Gu as they try to evade expert investigators while travelling across the UK.
The series is filmed in aid of Stand Up To Cancer. Cameras follow Dowden receiving chemotherapy injections while on the run, as she aims to show “the reality of cancer.”
“Unfortunately, a cancer diagnosis is like a life sentence,” she said, hoping the show sparks conversations at home about living with and facing cancer.
Gu, who has lost family members to cancer, called Dowden an inspiration. The pair said the “challenging” shoot cemented their friendship despite “relentless” arguments — including one over carrot cake — as sleep and food ran short on the run.
When does Celebrity Hunted air, and is Amy Dowden back on Strictly?
Celebrity Hunted returns on Monday 3 August at 9pm on Channel 4. Dowden has also confirmed her return to the Strictly ballroom for 2026, alongside new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
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