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Story summary
Karen Clifton, an ex-dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, criticized current pro dancer Amy Dowden for not doing a good job. Clifton, who was on the show from 2004 until 2018, said that Dowden has been eliminated first in recent years and is showing signs of struggling with her performances. She alleged that Dowden "counts in" her dance steps, which Clifton sees as evidence of poor performance. Last year, Dowden and her partner Thomas Skinner were voted off first after a dance-off against Chris Robshaw. Dowden has been on the show since 2017 and is known for being a divisive figure due to her public support of controversial figures like Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Written for “Dancing Critique Amy Dowden” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 62297 · logged 2026-10-07
Ex-Strictly dancer delivers brutal critique of Amy Dowden
Dowden, who also left the competition first in 2025, said she was “gutted” to be gone so soon, adding: “I honestly think there was so much more to come.”
asserted
I → deliver → 2025
Speaking to Sky Vegas, Cole, who was on the show from 2004 until 2018, said: “To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge.
asserted
one → speak → challenge
Read More
“Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion.
asserted
Amy → read → 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.
asserted
she → think → years
One can do the maths on that.”
asserted
One → do → that
Cole claimed that he can see Dowden “counting in” her partners, a sign to him that the “job has not been done”.
“I don’t think people are enjoying it,” he said.
asserted
he → claim → it
Last year, Dowden, who joined the show in 2017, and partner Thomas Skinner were voted off first following a dance-off against Chris Robshaw.
asserted
who → join → Robshaw
The former The Apprentice star is a divisive internet personality, whose public support for Donald Trump and JD Vance resulted in calls for him to be removed from the show.
asserted
him → result → show
Dowden shutdown claims that she had been paired with Skinner in order to “protect her health”, following her public breast cancer battle.
uncertain
she → pair → battle
She was unable to compete in the competition in 2023, and in 2024, had been forced to leave her partner JB Gill after breaking her foot.
asserted
She → compete → foot
She told The Telegraph: “You know, he said when he came in that he wasn’t a dancer, but he worked really hard.
asserted
he → tell → Telegraph
Obviously, I was gutted, selfishly, because I’d wanted to prove that after a cancer diagnosis you can come back and do well.
asserted
you → gutte → diagnosis
“I certainly didn’t know them.
asserted
I → know → them
I’m not a massive television watcher,” he said on Good Morning Britain last month, though admittedly described himself a “bitter old pro”.
asserted
he → ’m → himself
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