Overview

• Dowden and celebrity partner Thomas Skinner were the first couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2025 after the series’ opening dance-off.
• Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood voted to save Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova, leaving Motsi Mabuse’s casting vote unused.
• After returning home, Dowden posted a thank-you message to supporters on Instagram and shared a photo from her sofa.
• She highlighted a spike of 36.2 million profile views over 30 days and told fans she has “lots of exciting things” to share soon.
• The exit came during her high-profile comeback following breast cancer treatment in 2023 and a 2024 withdrawal with a leg and foot injury, and she praised Skinner for helping restore her confidence.