Amy Dowden responds to criticism from former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole, who said she was “not up to the challenge” of training celebrities. The exchange comes after Dowden faced public scrutiny in the wake of her cancer battle. Multiple outlets report that Dowden directly addresses Cole’s comments, appearing to push back on the tone and framing of the criticism.
In her reply, Dowden says it is important to be kind and asks, “what do you expect?” She also describes taking advice from a “late” figure, which one outlet frames as additional guidance following the backlash. While outlets vary slightly in wording—some characterising Cole’s remarks as “cruel” and others emphasising Dowden’s refusal to be affected by negativity—they broadly agree that Dowden is challenging the critique and stressing respectful conduct in the context of her comeback and public life.
