AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF SECONDARY CANCER AMY DOWDEN KEEPS SMILING AS SHE ENJOYS SUPPORT OF HER 'STRICTLY COME DANCING' FAMILY

Giving her typically radiant smile, professional dancer Amy Dowden poses for a photo surrounded by her Strictly Come Dancing family.

- LILY WADDELL

But there is a poignant reason why the star, who won the hearts of the nation with her talent and bubbly personality after joining the BBC show in 2017, dropped in to see her fellow pro friends including Dianne Buswell, Neil Jones and Gorka Márquez - for this special reunion.

Last week, Amy, 32, revealed that after undergoing a mastectomy she has been diagnosed with secondary cancer and is about to begin chemotherapy. The news comes as a further blow after she was told that she had grade 3 breast cancer earlier this year.

Yet the irrepressibly upbeat dancer was overjoyed to join her friends and shared the photo on Instagram, writing: "I surprised the gang! Just what I needed! Seeing the @bbcstrictly family! Going to be an amazing series and I can't wait to watch you all shine and be with you all when I can!"

Among the many hearts posted in response by her co-stars, Karen Hauer replied: "Love you."

FIRM FRIENDS

Amy also made a special visit to McFly star Tom Fletcher - her celebrity partner in the 2021 series and his wife Giovanna.

She later posted: "Chats, tea, biscuits, chickens, hide and seek and a rrrrrrreally good catch up which was soooooo needed! Thank you. Had the perfect day ahead of the next journey which begins tomorrow. Thank you so much."