Amy Dowden has revealed she put a lot of pressure on herself to return to Strictly Come Dancing after her cancer battle.

The dancer, 34, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 and underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy before announcing she was cancer-free in February 2024.

She returned to the BBC dance competition just months later in September 2024 with JLS star JB Gill, but was forced to withdraw after week six due to a foot injury.

Now, Amy has admitted she put too much ‘pressure’ on herself to return to Strictly and said she hadn’t properly ‘accepted’ everything after her cancer treatment.

‘Last year, it was a lot of emotions, excitement but I think also pressure I had put on myself,’ she told The Mirror.

‘I wasn’t confident in myself really deep down, I think I was still trying to accept everything. I didn’t look the same, with my hair growing back, you could see a difference in me.’

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Amy Dowden has revealed she put a lot of pressure on herself to return to Strictly Come Dancing after her cancer battle

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After confirming she was cancer-free in February 2024, Amy returned to Strictly in September 2024 with JLS star JB Gill, but was forced to withdraw after week six due to a foot injury

While she is yet to hear if she has secured a spot on the 2025 series, Amy excitedly looked ahead and said she feels she would be able to properly enjoy the show again.

‘I think this year, I would be able to truly go in and enjoy it and I think that’s what I would be looking forward to the most. I really do truly feel like Amy again,’ she added.

All of the professional dancers are currently waiting to hear the official line-up for the 2025 series, with a decision expected to be made by bosses in the Spring.

Amy is set to return to the dance floor in a matter of weeks alongside her Strictly co-star Carlos Gu as they will embark on their Reborn UK tour on March 10.

In November, she admitted her heart was ‘broken’ when she was forced to pull out of Strictly following a foot injury.

Taking to Instagram, she wrote: ‘My heart is breaking right now. The past few months I finally felt like me again. Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up.

‘It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again.

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Now, Amy (pictured earlier this month) has admitted she put too much ‘pressure’ on herself to return to Strictly and said she hadn’t properly ‘accepted’ everything after her cancer treatment

‘My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the Strictly dance floor. It’s been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 to.

‘With my incredible team we got there. Something I wanted to do for myself and my loved ones. There was no feeling like it dancing again in the ballroom with my Strictly family.’

She went on to thank her celebrity partner, singer JB, and showed her support for Lauren Oakley, who took over in her absence.

‘Then I was partnered with the talented, kind, gentle, soul JB. Everyday out training room was chilled, hardworking and full of big smiles enjoying what we was [sic] creating together with a blossoming friendship.

‘JB, thank you for being the perfect partner back. We topped the leader board week one and continued to work so hard and thank you for being so passionate about understanding the ballroom and latin fundamentals.

‘For me that rumba will always be one of my favs. I’m so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short.

‘My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury and I know all too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing.

‘Something I’ve had to get used to in my life. I’m sure at some point we’ll dance again JB. To all the fans, to my loved ones, my Strictly family thank you.’