Amy Dowden has responded to “personal” criticism from former professional dancer Brendan Cole following her early exit from the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Speaking in an interview with Closer magazine published on November 3, Dowden expressed sadness over the nature of the remarks and confirmed that Cole has not reached out to apologize.
The professional dancer, who was eliminated in the first round of the competition alongside celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton on October 4, faced public critique from Cole regarding her performance as a teacher. Speaking to Sky Vegas, Cole suggested that Dowden had not been “up to the challenge” and argued she had not done a “very good job” in recent years.
“It’s just sad when it’s personal,” Dowden told Closer, noting that while professional critiques are part of the industry, the tone of Cole’s comments felt different.
The conflict follows a difficult run for Dowden on the BBC flagship show. Her departure with Appleton marked the second consecutive year she has been the first professional eliminated from the competition, following a similar early exit in 2025 with partner Thomas Skinner.
During the 2026 Movie Week, Dowden and Appleton performed a Baywatch-themed Cha Cha to “I’ll Be Ready.” The routine received a score of 17 out of 40 from the judges, which ultimately led to their elimination.
The public spat has divided other former pros. James Jordan defended Cole during an appearance on GB News, suggesting the comments were not intended to be as harsh as they were perceived. Jordan stated that Cole was “really upset” by the ensuing press backlash and argued that his former colleague “didn’t mean it in a negative way.”
Despite the defense from Jordan, Dowden has maintained a focus on “kindness” in her public responses. She had previously addressed the situation more generally in October, urging for more supportive discourse within the professional dancing community.
Brendan Cole, who was an original professional on Strictly Come Dancing, left the series in 2017. While he no longer has a formal role with the production, his regular commentary on the show’s technical standards remains a frequent fixture of the tabloid cycle during the autumn season.