Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has revealed that she’s been diagnosed with Grade 3 breast cancer.
The 32-year-old professional dancer – who has been a familiar face on the BBC show since 2017 – said it “wasn’t easy to share” the news, but took to social media this morning to reveal her devastating diagnosis to her hundreds of thousands of fans.
The Caerphilly-born TV star insisted that she’s “determined” to be back dancing soon though, despite her diagnosis.
Dowden, who Strictly fans will remember has been partnered on the show with stars including McFly’s Tom Fletcher, EastEnders actor James Bye, comedian Brian Conley, as well as making it all the way to the final and finishing runner-up with TV presenter Karim Zeroual, wrote on Instagram: “Hey all, I’ve got some news which isn’t easy to share.
“I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I’m determined to get back on that dance floor before you know it.”
Fellow Strictly pros, and countless famous names from the entertainment world who have appeared as contestants on the BBC series in the past, have flooded the comments section Dowden’s Instagram post to share their messages support.
Gemma Atkinson, Harry Judd, Clara Amfo, Stacey Dooley, Giovanna Fletcher, Joe Sugg, Alex Jones, and Susan Calman are just some of the former contestants to send their love.
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Well-wishes also came from Strictly stars Gorka Marquez, Oti Mabuse, Karen Hauer, Johannes Radebe, Dianne Buswell, and judge Motsi Mabuse.
Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden reveals she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer / Credit: BBC
Opening up about her breast cancer diagnosis in an exclusive interview with Hello! magazine, Dowden admitted: “I’ve been through quite a lot in my life and this is another hurdle. But if I’m positive and strong, I’ve got a really good chance of getting back out on the dancefloor as soon as possible.”
Dowden said she found a lump in her right breast back in April, and was told earlier in May that she has Grade Three breast cancer.
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“My doctor explained to me that there are three grades, and three is the most aggressive,” Dowden continued in her interview, “But they feel like they’ve caught mine early and to not be too alarmed because grade three would be expected in somebody of my age.”
She revealed that doctors have since found a second lump, and she is waiting for a full treatment plan – but says it will “definitely include surgery”.
Dowden has also suffered from Crohn’s disease since she was a child, and has spoken publicly about the impact the incurable bowel condition has on her life and her career as a professional dancer, as well as continuously raising awareness of the disease.
A documentary about her experiences of living with the condition aired on the BBC in October 2020, and went on to win a BAFTA Cymru award.
Her diagnosis also comes less than a year since she married her long-term dance partner Ben Jones.
Dowden says she hopes that speaking out about her diagnosis “could end up saving some other people’s lives because they start checking their breasts”.
Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
A TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Do you think it’s too early for the ‘C word’? Never mind, you’ve already clicked on this article.
Sure, we may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn’t exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner – but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when the famous TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop is now back on air in the UK.
Yes, you heard that right – Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and in welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there’s arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that’s charmed audiences for over half a decade now.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it’s now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films – including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
The channel will run until early January.
Featured Image – Freestocks (via Unsplash)
TV & Showbiz
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Emily Sergeant -
24th May 2023 
