Overview
- The Strictly professional said the operation is not to treat a new cancer diagnosis and that doctors expect a straightforward recovery.
- She told fans she will sit out the show while healing, watching from home with plans to rejoin once she is cleared.
- Dowden returned to the BBC series with partner Thomas Skinner this year and exited in the second week as the first professional eliminated.
- She did not attend the National Television Awards due to Strictly filming, with her parents representing her as her documentary was nominated but did not win.
- She credits her 2021 pairing with Tom Fletcher and subsequent work with breast cancer charity Coppafeel for prompting the checks that found her cancer after a 2023 diagnosis that led to surgery and chemotherapy.