Overview
- Speaking on BBC's It Takes Two, Dowden said she is feeling well and that her recovery is going to plan four weeks after surgery.
- Her pre-recorded Pro Challenge attempt topped the leaderboard with 33 valid Samba Whisks, surpassing Nancy Xu's 28 under judging by Shirley Ballas.
- The Pro Challenge segment was filmed before her recent operation, and she appeared on the show alongside fellow professional Katya Jones.
- Dowden remarked that time away left her feeling "a bit rusty" and said "luck has not been on my side" over the past two years.
- This update follows an early exit from the 2025 series with partner Thomas Skinner and comes after her 2023 breast cancer diagnosis, initial mastectomy and chemotherapy, and a 'no evidence of disease' report in February 2024.