BBC Strictly’s Amy Dowden reveals she ‘blacks out from pain’ in devastating health update

star has opened up about the harrowing effects of her chronic health condition, revealing that she experiences blackouts due to the intense pain it causes.

In a candid conversation with Aimee Fuller on her Monday Mile podcast, the professional dancer opened up about her struggle with Crohn’s disease, detailing some of the most extreme symptoms of the condition.

Despite Crohn’s disease affecting approximately one in every 650 individuals in the UK, Amy was eager to explain just how this inflammatory bowel disease can impact the body.

The 34-year-old said: “Crohn’s disease in an inflammatory bowel disease, it’s inflammation to the bowel, but it starts from the mouth right through to the gut and you can develop narrowing to the bowel, ulcers, inflammation (and it) can become life threatening to some.”

While the symptoms can vary, Amy described how the impact of the disease can escalate to such a degree that it leads to her losing consciousness.

She continued: “Symptoms for myself is severe vomiting, constipation, pain, which is excruciating pain, which makes me pass out.”

Comparing her experience to giving birth, the -born dancer declared: “Which if you think, a woman is designed for childbirth, you don’t pass out during childbirth, I can have four to five black outs, because the pain is that much that my body can’t control [it].”

Detailing the harrowing affects of the condition, Amy added: “I get swollen eyes, inflammation to my joints, my skin, but I’m very very lucky that I work with the most incredible team and a lot of my severe symptoms are now under control and in remission.

“I’m so blessed to have such an incredible team, but unfortunately, Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness that I will live with for the rest of my life.”

Amy was 19-years-old when she discovered she had Crohn’s disease and now works to raise awareness about Crohn’s & Colitis UK and advocate for better care for people living with the conditions.

This isn’t the only health battle Amy has been forced to endure as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. After learning of her stage three diagnosis, Amy had a mastectomy and chemotherapy, along with fertility treatment.

She was forced to skip the 2023 series of Strictly and thankfully, was told she had “no evidence of disease” in February 2024. Amy returned to the Strictly dance floor during the 2024 series, where she was partnered with .

However, the star was issued a devastating blow as she was forced to withdraw from the competition halfway through after sustaining an injury.

Lauren Oakley stepped in to replace Amy and she made it to the final with JB, but the couple were beaten by and Dianne Buswell.