Strictly's Amy Dowden says her return to live shows will be "lovely for her family" after beating stage three breast cancer.

Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden has said her return to the live show on Saturday will be “lovely for her family” after beating breast cancer.

The dancer, 34, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023 and in what has become the hardest year of her life, Amy has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and was hospitalized with sepsis.

However, she announced in February that she would be returning to the show this year after a mastectomy and chemotherapy left her with “no evidence of disease” following tests.

Speaking about her return to training and live gigs, she told the Press Association: “I absolutely love it, JB has been the perfect return for me.”

“I’m back in my happy place doing what I love most.”

Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden has said her return to the live show on Saturday will be “lovely for her family” after overcoming a battle with breast cancer.

The dancer, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, announced in February that she would be returning to the show this year after a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

“I think it’s just going to be nice (today) because it’s going to be nice for my family, because they’ve struggled as much as I have, because I have to watch myself go through this.”

Recognizing last year’s Strictly was a “tough watch for them”, Amy said: “Last year’s Strictly was a tough watch for them because it was a reminder of exactly what I was going through.”

“It’s going to be a big celebration, this whole series for me.”

The Welsh dancer will perform the waltz to Leo Sayer’s ‘When I Need You’ alongside her celebrity partner JB Gill, 37.

Ahead of Saturday’s live show, JB told PA he felt the pair’s chemistry was “very strong”.

He said: “For me I think it’s just trusting Amy, she’s a professional for a reason, I trust her judgement.”

“We talk a lot and I think our chemistry is really strong, right from the start.”

“So, you know, just trusting her decisions, and obviously we’ll figure things out together, and then once we’ve decided, that’s it, and we go and execute it, so that’s the biggest goal mine in this sense”.

Speaking about her return to training and performing live, she said: “I think it’s just going to be great (today) because it’s going to be nice for my family because they’ve struggled as much as I have I did it by having to watch myself go. through her’ (pictured with her parents Gillian and Richard in 2018)

The Welsh dancer will waltz to Leo Sayer’s ‘When I Need You’ alongside her celebrity partner JB Gill, 37.

Gill also said the training regimen was “amazing and amazing” as she found ballroom dancing “completely foreign” compared to the choreography she performed while dancing with JLS.

The Croydon-born singer said: “In the early days it was amazing and amazing because it was a complete stranger.”

“I went to my wife’s house (professional whistler Chloe Tangney) and I said, this is what I was doing and I was going through the count, and she said, ‘What the hell is this?’ It doesn’t even make sense. “‘

“It took a while to get into the swing of things like that, but the body, of course, goes through a lot of different things.”

“It’s a waltz, so it’s not as impactful, I should say, as maybe other body styles.”

“But you still feel it, there are certain things like when you’re holding your frame as well as your shoulders, your back, even your neck, because the positioning has to be right if you’re doing it right, even the hands have to stay close, so that you also have tension in your hands.

“So all those things that you probably don’t expect and (have) kind of washed out the last two weeks, but we’re in good shape.”

It comes after Amy revealed earlier this year that she is now cancer free.

Although she won’t get the go-ahead for five years and will still need treatment, she thanked her family and friends for their support amid her “toughest year”.

Taking to Instagram at the time to reveal the happy news, she wrote: ‘NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Words I dreamed of! My biggest achievement so far!

“I won’t get the all clear for 5 years, especially with a hormone fueled cancer. But it was all worth it. Words I didn’t think I would ever hear.

“So grateful for all the care I have received and continue to receive.”

“To my husband, family and friends who have supported me unconditionally and you guys! Thank you!

She continued: “I will still need a monthly injection for 5 years and regular check-ups.”

“Chemotherapy and the past year have definitely taken a toll on my body both physically and mentally, so I’m going to take the next few months to heal and recover.”

The Strictly contestants looked in high spirits on Friday as they returned to their hotel after their dress rehearsal for the first Strictly live show on Saturday.

Dianne Buswell beamed as she entered the hotel with Chris McCausland

The dance partners were seen laughing together

Meanwhile, Pete Wicks, Jamie Borthwick and Tom Dean were pictured outside the hotel chatting and laughing with each other.

“I have so much to strive for and live for and I am so grateful for another chance at life! Something I know not everyone gets. I definitely see life differently and my life has changed forever!’

“Cancer affects too many, so I will continue to do everything I can to raise awareness and make sure I get as many as possible.”

“It’s time to look to the future after what has been the hardest year and one I certainly didn’t expect!”

— the dance floor is coming for you! Welsh love, always Amy x.

Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year and had a mastectomy in July, knocking out 2023 from the BBC ballroom dancing competition while undergoing treatment.

Her friend Dragon’s Den star Sara Davies, who competed on Strictly in 2021, revealed she had to convince Amy to continue her treatment when it was offered to her as Amy was scared she would to miss out on her Strictly career.

Businesswoman Sara said Amy was “wired” to dance from a young age and the thought of taking time off to focus on her health scared her.

Sara said on the Invite Only podcast: “I spent a lot of time with her at the beginning of her cancer diagnosis when she wasn’t feeling positive. He had been dealt a bad hand and was struggling with it.

It comes after Amy revealed earlier this year that she is now cancer free

Although she won’t get the go-ahead for five years and will still need treatment, she thanked her family and friends for their support amid her “toughest year”.

Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer last May and had a mastectomy in July (pictured January 2023)

“I knew then that I had to be the friend who filled up his tank, but also, if you want someone to hug you and tell you it’s going to be okay, I’m not the one to go to.”

“I was the one who said, ‘What’s the plan, Amy?’ and pushing her to make difficult decisions. She wasn’t sure if she was going to have chemo, so we talked about it.

She added: “What I’ve realized with dancers is that from the time they’re young, they’re trained to dance. And the biggest blow for her was: “If I don’t go down that road, I won’t be able to do Strictly this year.”

“I had to look her in the eye and say, ‘Amy, you have cancer. They just cut off your breast. I’m telling you that you have to do this chemotherapy to get better. Don’t worry. dance and Strict”.

“Her response was, ‘But she might not want me back next year.’ So I said, “Amy, you’re amazing at what you do, of course they’re going to want you back. You are so loved. Please, it’s very important. Get well.”

— And then he entered the show without the wig. What a phenomenal moment. When I saw her, I cried.

The first live show of Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.