Amy Dowden urges kindness after Brendan Cole’s harsh critique

The professional dancer, eliminated early from Strictly, says personal attacks have no place on the show.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:06:30 GMT

Amy Dowden, the 36‑year‑old Strictly professional who was the first to leave this season, has replied to former pro Brendan Cole’s blunt comments about her dancing, saying the focus should be on kindness.

What happened

Dowden and celebrity partner Chris Appleton were voted out after losing a dance‑off to Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu earlier this month, making her the first professional eliminated for a second consecutive series. In a separate interview, Cole, who danced on Strictly from 2004 to 2018, said he did not think Dowden had met the demands of training a celebrity partner.

What the reports add

Both the Standard and the Independent note that Cole described Dowden’s recent performances as “not up to the challenge” and suggested she has “been out first for the last few years.” The Standard adds that Cole said “one can do the maths on that.” The Independent repeats the same quotations and adds that Cole called the role of a Strictly professional “a big job.”

What was said

In an interview with The Mirror, Dowden told the outlet, “I’ll be honest, what do you expect from him? It’s fine – I’ve never been brought up to be personal, and in this day and age especially I think it’s so important to be kind, and to think about the next generation.” (Standard) The Independent records the same remarks.

Cole, speaking to Sky Vegas, said, “Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion. I don’t think Amy’s been doing a very good job for the last few years, and she’s been out first for the last few years.” (Independent)

How it came about

Dowden’s elimination follows a series of public comments from former pros about the 2026 Strictly lineup, including Cole’s September 22 criticism of the new cast (see Felo coverage). Earlier in the month, other show figures faced scrutiny, such as presenter Emma Willis’s Instagram response to host criticism on September 30 and Matt Willis’s defence of her on October 8.

Background

Dowden has been open about her battle with breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and two preventative mastectomies, and she frequently highlights charitable work through her dance academy.

Key facts

Amy Dowden and Chris Appleton were the first professional couple eliminated from Strictly 2026. (standard.co.uk)
Brendan Cole said Amy Dowden had not been up to the challenge of training a celebrity. (independent.co.uk)
Dowden responded by emphasizing the importance of kindness and using her platform for charity. (standard.co.uk)