Amy Dowden Hits Back at Brendan Cole’s Brutal Strictly Criticism — But the Cancer Survivor Says His Remarks Turned Personal and Reveals What Disappointed Her Most

by

Amy Dowden Slams Former Strictly Pro Brendan Cole Over “Personal” Attack Following Early Show Exit

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden has responded to criticism from former show star Brendan Cole, calling his public remarks about her capabilities an unprovoked “personal” attack.Strictly star breaks down in tears during live interview.mp4

The Dispute and Cole’s Criticism

  • Cole’s Remarks: Speaking in an interview with Sky Vegas following Dowden’s elimination, 50-year-old former Strictly pro Brendan Cole claimed that Dowden had not been “up to the challenge” for “the last few years.”
  • Back-to-Back First Exits: Dowden was the first professional eliminated from the current series after landing in the dance-off alongside celebrity partner and hair stylist Chris Appleton. The result marked her second consecutive first-week exit, having also bowed out first in the 2025 series alongside The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner.
  • Dowden’s Rebuttal: In an interview with Closer magazine, the 36-year-old dancer stated:
    “I’m sad it was so personal. It wasn’t just about the dancing; it was personal. But I don’t want to give him the attention he so desperately craves.”
  • Lack of Direct Contact: Dowden expressed disappointment that Cole did not contact her privately following the controversy: “Why not pick up the phone and check how I was after those headlines? I haven’t heard from him, but it’s fine, I don’t expect anything else.”
  • Social Media Reaction: Dowden previously countered Cole’s comments with a dressing room video miming Mariah Carey’s track “Obsessed” with the caption “If you know, you know” and the hashtag #bekind.

    Amy Dowden slams ex-Strictly star Brendan Cole over 'personal' attack - AOL

Royal Support and Cancer Recovery Connection

  • Connection to Catherine, Princess of Wales: Dowden, who returned to the dance competition in 2024 after undergoing treatment for breast cancer (diagnosed in 2023), shared that she received warm support from Kate Middleton during her treatment.
  • Princess Charlotte Encounter: Dowden recounted meeting the royal family at Kate’s Christmas carol concert, noting that 11-year-old Princess Charlotte recognized her immediately as an avid Strictly fan and came over to greet her.

Dowden’s Outlook on the Current Series

Despite her early exit, Dowden noted that the ongoing competition remains tight, singling out contestants Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Cach Mercer, and Jaime Winstone as standout contenders for the Glitterball trophy.