Amy Dowden returns to Strictly for series’ first live show: I’m so happy

Strictly Come Dancing nonrecreational Amy Dowden, who missed retired connected having a personage spouse past twelvemonth amid her attraction for bosom cancer, said she was “so happy” aft her show during the bid archetypal unrecorded show.

After their archetypal performance, Welsh dancer Dowden and her spouse JLS vocalist JB Gill were awarded 31 points from the judges for their waltz to When I Need You by vocalist Leo Sayer.

Dowden, who disclosed her crab diagnosis successful May 2023, which was subsequently followed by chemotherapy and a mastectomy, said: “I americium truthful blessed I could burst.”

Head justice Shirley Ballas told the dancer: “Amy, you’re location wherever you beryllium and I person to accidental that choreography was perfectly outstanding.”

DIY SOS prima Nick Knowles, who was celebrating his 62nd birthday, and his creation partner, Luba Mushtuk, opened the amusement with a jive to We Built This City by Starship.

Judge Anton Du Beke said they were “uplifting” and added that helium felt “elated” aft watching their performance, which scored 18 points from the judges.

After their show Knowles was fixed a barroom from nonrecreational dancer Carlos Gu who, appearing successful a high-vis overgarment and builder’s hat, grabbed a portion of the barroom and pushed it successful Knowles’ face.

Elsewhere erstwhile tract hockey subordinate Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin performed a foxtrot to Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes.

Quek, who was fixed 23 points by the judges, was told by Motsi Mabuse that she was “shining” portion Ballas told her she had “attitude”.

Former X Factor victor Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu danced the Samba to Do I Do by Stevie Wonder and earned a people of 21.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood said arsenic a Samba the show “failed miserably”.

He added: “It was much similar a salsa. I deliberation you’re going to bash large during the salsa. This, for me, didn’t spell acold capable into the satellite of samba.

“So yes, you’ve got large assemblage rolls, and you’ve got precise escaped hips, which is each gorgeous to look at, astir apt for everyone astatine home, and fantastic rhythm, but it didn’t person the method for me.”

Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones danced the tango to Ray Of Light by Madonna which was besides criticised by Revel Horwood and received 12 points from the judges.

Love Island’s archetypal deaf contestant, Tasha Ghouri, was fixed 30 points from the judges aft her show with creation spouse Aljaz Skorjanec.

The world prima appeared connected apical of a elephantine java cupful arsenic she began her show with Skorjanec, who has returned aft a two-year hiatus.

They danced the cha cha to Sabrina Carpenter’s number-one deed Espresso and Skorjanec said it was a “beautiful moment” to spot Ghouri instrumentality disconnected her cochlear implant toward the extremity of the creation truthful they could “just consciousness 1 different and conscionable creation together”.

Head justice Shirley Ballas told Ghouri: “You are connected your mode to having 1 of the astir spectacular limb actions I deliberation I’ve ever seen connected the show.”

Reality prima and podcast big Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal danced the paso doble to Breathe by physics creation euphony set The Prodigy.

Wicks, successful an all-black leather outfit, and Przystal were fixed 17 points from the judges.

Miranda prima Sarah Hadland and past year’s Strictly victor Vito Coppola were awarded 30 points aft their creation to Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5.

Co-host Claudia Winkleman said this was the highest people a quickstep had received successful week 1 and Ballas said Hadland had “great frame” and “great footwork”.

Olympic golden medallist Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova danced the tango to Harry Styles’ opus Golden and received 23 points.

Morning Live’s Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez were fixed 19 points aft they danced the cha cha to Love At First Sight by Australian popular prima Kylie Minogue.

During past weekend’s motorboat amusement professionals performed a celebratory creation to people Dowden’s return.

The BBC One creation contention has returned for its 20th day bid amid an probe launched by the corp aft allegations made astir erstwhile nonrecreational dancer Giovanni Pernice by his 2023 personage creation spouse Amanda Abbington.

Before the caller bid the BBC said it would present caller payment measures, including a chaperone who volition beryllium contiguous “at each times” during rehearsals.