Fans of Strictly Come Dancing expressed growing concern for professional dancer Amy Dowden after her emotionally charged exit on October 6th, when she and her celebrity partner Thomas Skinner became the first couple eliminated this season.

On Sunday night, Amy and Thomas found themselves in the dreaded bottom two, alongside Nadiya Bychkova and Chris Robshaw. Ultimately, the judges chose to save Robshaw’s partnership, sending Amy and Thomas home early in the competition.

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A Heartfelt Farewell

Following the elimination, Amy was visibly tearful. In an emotional speech before the show’s close, she said:

“I’ve got to know the real Tom, and he is adorable. He’s looked after me. We’ve laughed so much. We’ve worked so hard and a glitterball would have been amazing but what I’ve learnt in the last few years is happiness, health and being alive are more important than anything. I’ve made a new friend for life and I wouldn’t change a thing.
“There is a Ballroom boy in there so I’m a bit gutted he didn’t get to do the Ballroom. The last three years, as you know, have been quite difficult for me.
“I lost all confidence as a dancer – but walking into the room with you with a massive smile and a laugh, you brought me back and, honestly, thank you.”

Her words struck a chord with many viewers, particularly because Amy has been transparent about her health journey, including a battle with breast cancer. Her openness and vulnerability have made her a deeply loved figure by Strictly fans.

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Public Reaction and Concern

Given Amy’s recent health challenges, some fans were quick to voice their worries online:

• “I’m so worried about Amy. Think there are things we don’t know. Hope I’m VERY wrong,” one user posted on X.

• “Maybe the producers didn’t want to push her too hard this year, and decided to make sure she was resting by mid‑October,” another speculated.

• “Genuinely feel for Amy. After having to drop out last year due to illness… Then this year, getting partnered with someone who was set to fail anyway. I hope next year is her year,” read a third comment.

• Others simply sent supportive messages like, “What an incredible person Amy is! Sending lots of love to her!”

The outpouring of concern underscores how deeply viewers care about her well‑being.

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Reading the Body Language: Expert View

Body language analyst Judi James commented on Amy’s performance, especially her expressive exit, saying:

“Amy deserved better than this, and so did the fans who wanted to welcome her back with a virtual hug. Instead, watching her act as a human dumbbell and perform other dangerous-looking lifts and stunts, plus her tearful, heart‑rending speech after the inevitable ending, was difficult to watch.
“When a celebrity contestant is at risk of being voted off the show, there are several ‘phone a friend’ style lifelines their pro dancers have as options. Amy’s ‘lifeline’ to Tom was using industrial-strength overkill body language to try to sell him to the viewers… Her eyes were too wide and rounded … her mouth dropped so far open … She had a tight grip on his neck … the leap into his arms … suggested she would bravely know no limits when it came to dragging her partner as far into the competition as possible.”

Judi went on to say that she believed Thomas was not the ideal fit for Strictly, though she suggested he might fare better in a different reality show format. Whether one agrees with her reading or not, her analysis reinforced the emotional intensity that Amy put into every moment on stage.

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Amy’s Health Journey: A Pattern of Resilience

To understand why fans are so protective of Amy, it helps to look at what she’s already endured and overcome.

• In 2023, Amy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer just before her honeymoon. 

• She also lives with Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition she has spoken about publicly. 

• After months of treatment, she announced she had “no evidence of disease,” though regular monitoring continues.

• In late 2024, she was forced to withdraw from Strictly due to a foot injury (specifically, an insufficiency stress fracture) despite her determined return to the show. 

• On one occasion, she collapsed backstage during a live show, and paramedics were called as a precaution. 

Her resilience has been a recurring theme in interviews. In The Guardian, she reflected:

“I had missed the 2023 season … My goal since hearing the words: ‘Amy, you’ve got cancer’ was to get back on the Strictly dancefloor … I’m still not at the level where I was before, but I’m working at it. … Dance is my happy place.” 

Because of this backdrop, any moment of visible distress or fatigue from Amy carries amplified weight for fans and observers alike.

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Looking Ahead: Sympathy, Speculation, Hope

With her elimination now official, many are left wondering: what next for Amy Dowden?

• Some speculate that the show’s producers may have paced her involvement carefully, pulling back before pushing too far, in light of her medical history.

• Others hope she might appear later in the season’s group dances or return in future years when conditions are more favorable.

• The audience’s emotional reaction—in combination with her history—makes it likely that Amy will receive generous support and understanding from both fans and the Strictly team.

In short, Amy’s exit was not just the loss of a competitor—it felt like a collective sigh across the viewing audience. Many still hope for a comeback—after all, her journey so far suggests she is anything but done.