Amy Dowden Joins Amber Davies and Anna Maxwell Martin at BAFTA Cymru Awards Amid Emotional Departure from Strictly

Amy Dowden, Amber Davies and Anna Maxwell Martin led the red carpet glamour as they attended the Cymru Awards at Neport’s International Convention centre on Sunday evening. 

Professional ballroom dancer Amy, 35, was making an appearance at the event as BBC viewers watched her tearful departure from Strictly Come Dancing with celebrity partner Thomas Skinner. 

She appeared to be back on form after breaking down during Sunday’s pre-recorded results show as she posed for photographers in a red, sleeveless, velvet dress. 

The dancer added inches to her frame as she slipped into a pair of strappy, silver, heeled sandals. 

Fellow Strictly Come Dancing star Amber, 29 – a late inclusion to the show – also looked incredible as she attended the glitzy event wearing  a black leotard layered under a sparkly skirt. 

She completed her red carpet ensemble with a pair of towering black heels as she backcombed her raven dresses to add an extra hint of Hollywood glamour. 

Meanwhile, Line Of Duty star Anna, 48, looked sophisticated as she stepped out in a black two-piece suit which she paired with white heels.   

Elsewhere, Erin Richards looked phenomenal in as colourful silk dress and nude heels as she rubbed her blossoming baby bump on the red carpet. 

Angharad Llwyd stunned at the star-studded event as she stepped out in a chic, black dress which featured an elegant capet. 

Katie Owens put on a leggy display in a white and nude floral mini dress which she paired with white platform heels. 

Aleighcia Scott commanded attention as she stepped out in a long, off-the-shoulder gown which was adorned with pearls.

Amy and Thomas took to the dancefloor in week two of the hit BBC competition to performing to Dizzee Rascal’s Bonkers.

But during the first Results Show, Thomas and Amy went head-to-head against Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova in the show’s first dance off. 

The judges’ scores this week were added to those from the first live show, where there was no public vote, and were then combined with the results of last night’s public vote to decide the two lowest scoring couples facing the dance off. 

During the episode Thomas and Amy reperformed their Salsa to Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal and Armand van Helden, then Chris and Nadiya performed their Viennese Waltz to Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

But after three votes in favour of  Chris and Nadiya, Thomas and Amy were announced as the first couple to exit the competition. 

Motsi Mabuse – who this week was the judge with the deciding vote – said that she would also have chosen to save Chris and Nadiya, should she have been required to vote.

When asked by Tess Daly about their time on the show, Thomas Skinner said: ‘I’ve loved it. I’ve never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy’s amazing. It’s been great fun and I’ve enjoyed it. I can’t really dance that well but I’ve had fun! Thank you, Amy – sorry that we haven’t done too good, ’cause you’re a different class.’

Amy added: ‘I’ve got to know the real Tom, and he is adorable. He’s looked after me. We’ve laughed so much. 

‘We’ve worked so hard and a glitterball would have been amazing but what I’ve learnt in the last few years is happiness, health and being alive is more important than anything. 

‘I’ve made a new friend for life and I wouldn’t change a thing. There is a Ballroom boy in there so I’m a bit gutted he didn’t get to do the Ballroom, but the last three years as you know have been quite difficult for me.

‘I lost all confidence as a dancer – but walking into the room with you with a massive smile and a laugh, you brought me back and, honestly, thank you.’

Sunday’s Results Show also featured a magical routine to Ordinary by Alex Warren from Strictly’s fabulous Professional Dancers, led by Jowita Przystał and Nikita Kuzmin.

The remaining fourteen couples will take to the dancefloor next week for Movie Week, when Strictly Come Dancing returns at 6:05pm on Saturday October 11. 

Viewers were left reeling on Saturday night after Thomas’s salsa routine went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Within seconds of the performance kicking off, fans flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to blast Thomas’s dance skills, exaggerated facial expressions, and his constant tongue movements. 

One unimpressed viewer fumed: ‘Watching Tom Skinner try and dance is actually making me feel sick. PUT YOUR TONGUE AWAY PLEASEEE.’; 

‘@strictly it’s hurting my eyes make it stop (prayer hands emoji) Tom Skinner.’; ‘The way I feel genuinely ILL watching Tom Skinner oh my god.’; 

‘Tom Skinner, dear on dear. It’s not your fault you can’t dance, but stop sticking your tongue out. Last thing anyone wants to see on a Saturday night.’; 

‘The Pools game is now the second worst thing I’ve seen today, Tom Skinner trying to dance with those facial expressions won’t erase itself from my memory quickly.’ 

Despite the criticism, Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 but was given the all-clear around 18 months ago, was full of positivity as she chatted to host Claudia Winkleman, 53, after the routine. 

She said: ‘If I’ve learned anything in the last two years, life is too short, take risks.’

However, their risky salsa didn’t win over the judges, who awarded the pair just 13 points – one of the lowest scores of the night.

Amy also admitted she was slightly nervous during rehearsals due to Thomas’s intense ‘concentration face’.

She said: ‘It was okay until we had to do lifts and I was high up there and he had his eyes shut,’ 

However, the dancer added that she does ‘trust’ him before turning to him and gushing: ‘I’m so proud of you!’