Overview
- Dowden said the BBC show helped her and fellow patients through the “darkest of times,” describing its value as escapism during treatment.
- She has documented her diagnosis since 2023 and now commits her 727,000-strong Instagram platform to raising awareness, funding and potentially saving lives.
- The pro returned for the 2025 series with former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, with the pair becoming the first couple eliminated.
- She voiced disappointment that coverage fixates on off-screen drama instead of friendships and routines that unfold on the dancefloor.
- Recent headlines included Skinner’s admission of infidelity and claims about voting, Welsh singer Wynne Evans being dropped after an apology over language, and actor Jamie Borthwick’s suspension, as the series ended with Karen Carney and Carlos Gu winning.