Amy Dowden is supported by her Strictly partner Chris Appleton as they reunite to recreate iconic Dirty Dancing lift after she hit back at Brendan Cole's criticism of her Strictly skills

Amy Dowden was supported by her Strictly partner Chris Appleton as they reunited a week after they were eliminated from the competition to recreate the Dirty Dancing lift. 

The couple took to Instagram on Sunday night as Chris praised his professional partner for the incredible time they had together alongside a clip of them dancing to (I've Had) The Time of My Life Had The Time. 

Following the pair's elimination from the show last week, Amy has faced criticism from former Strictly pro Brendan Cole who said  he feels Amy 'hasn't been up to the challenge' of training another celebrity, despite bravely returning to the show after her battle with cancer.

And Chris made sure to show his full support for Amy as he told her: 'No one puts Amy in the corner,' as they recreated the iconic sketch. 

He then captioned the post: 'Couldn’t hang up my dancing shoes without attempting THAT lift. Amy I’ve had the time of my life.'

Amy added: 'You mentioned dirty dancing and that lift every day! We had to do it! 

'Miss you already! Also how you managed to do that lift over 50 times and not drop me once xxxx love you my friend xxxx'.

Amy and Chris were the first couple to be eliminated from this year's series of Strictly after they lost out in the dance off to Jaime Winstone and her partner Carlos Gu. 

Meanwhile the post came just hours after Amy was praised by fans for her 'iconic' response to Brendan's criticism of her Strictly skills.

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Amy responded with a video posted moments before the live show began.

Filmed in her dressing room, the video showed the dancer looking incredible in a silver dress, while blowing a kiss to the camera.

She mimed Mariah Carey's soundbite, ‘And I was like, why are you so obsessed with me?’ which is the opening line of the 2009 single Obsessed.

Amy captioned the post: ‘If you know, you know #bekind #inaworldyoucanbeanythingbekind’.

Viewers of the BBC show flooded the comments with praise for Amy’s response, writing: 'Keep shining - perfect response,'

'You are an icon of all queens. Your one in a million,'; 'Amy girl none of us agree with that bitter man. We love you Queen!!!!!'

'I am so here for this response, you go our amazing welsh lady,'; 'Icon',; 'This is sooo iconic of you!!!'

Brendan remarked on Wednesday that he felt the dancer 'hasn't been doing a very good job' as a dancer on the show.

Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, and was forced to miss the show later that year, before returning in 2024.

Brendan's comments will no doubt cause controversy, as he said: 'To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge.

'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. One can do the maths on that.'

Brendan told Sky Vegas: 'She's standing out there counting him in. She's counting every step for him. It's very obvious that the job has not been done, and I don't think people are enjoying it.'

Amy revealed in February 2024 that she was officially cancer-free as doctors told her that tests showed 'no evidence of disease'.

Despite this, the dancer still has to go to the hospital for regular check-ups, monthly injections, scans and follow-up treatments as part of her five-year recovery plan.  

Amy was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in May 2023, and underwent an initial mastectomy.

Just months later, Amy learned she had another type of cancer, which was found elsewhere in the body.

Amy was paired with JB Gill when she returned to Strictly in 2024, but she was forced to withdraw from the series halfway through after collapsing backstage.

Last year, Amy danced with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, but they were the first pairing to get the boot.