Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me

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2024

Documentary
Lifestyle

Summary

Documentary detailing Strictly dancer Amy Dowden's battle against stage three breast cancer. Six days after her diagnosis in May 2023, Amy made the decision to allow cameras to follow her experiences whatever may unfold as she entered a world of surgery, chemotherapy, fertility treatment and uncertainty. Over a 15 month-period, the film captures the difficult times, tough decisions and glorious moments like the Strictly family finding a way to include her in the pro dance in the series final

Review

Frances Taylor

Amy Dowden’s powerful, authored documentary Strictly Amy: Crohn’s and Me aired in 2020 and detailed the Strictly Come Dancing professional’s physical and emotional struggles with the chronic condition. Tragically, only a few years later, the 34-year-old now has another similarly titled story to share.

In 2023, Dowden was gearing up for her honeymoon with new husband and fellow dancer Ben Jones when she found a lump in her breast. Only six days after her cancer diagnosis, she decided to allow cameras to follow her as she embarked on surgery, chemotherapy and fertility treatment.

This one-off programme has been 15 months in the making, and filming only stopped once, when Dowden was taken to intensive care after she fell ill with sepsis. As she tells RT this week, “When you’ve been through what I’ve been through, you realise what’s important and what to focus on.”

Although a preview wasn’t available at the time of us going to press, it’s evident this is going to be a moving, courageous and personal story.