Strictly’s Neil Jones showers co-star Amy Dowden with support during cancer battle

Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones showered his co-star Amy Dowden with support as she continues to battle cancer.

The Welsh beauty announced that she had been diagnosed breast cancer and had undergone a mastectomy one month later.

Doctors later found another type of cancer in the dancer which she described as a “massive blow” which meant that she would be unable to compete in the BBC One dance show later this year.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Shirley Ballas wows in bikini after shedding nine pounds in seven days

But that hasn’t stopped her from supporting her co-stars from the side lines, after she paid them a visit during the first day of rehearsals ahead of the upcoming series set to launch this autumn.

Now, in an exclusive interview with Daily Star at a dog fur-iendly event at Romeo and Juliet’s café last week, the TV hunk has shared his support for his fellow co-star.

Describing what it was like to see the blonde bombshell walk through the studio doors, he told us: “It was really, really nice and it was funny because we were just getting together at that moment in rehearsals to send her a video.

“We just sent the video and then she came in and we said ‘Amy, we just sent you a picture and a video’ and all that.”

He went on to shower the dancer with support, adding that he will always be there for her through thick and thin.

Neil went on: “It is emotion you know, we’re all a family and I’ve known Amy even longer and way before Strictly so, we’re just there to support her.

“I think it’s just one of those where we’re sending all of our positive energy to her and we send messages as much as we can.

“I know for anybody there’s going to be people calling and all of that so with Amy especially, I just send her a little message every now and again and just say, ‘If you need anything – just let us know, we’re always here for you’.”

Now, the TV star is set to document her breast cancer diagnosis in a raw BBC documentary as she shared a snap of cameramen filming her first chemotherapy session online.

It comes after the hunk attended a dog fur-riendly photography exhibition at Romeo and Juliet’s café on North Hampstead last week.

The star-studded event celebrated Burns Pet Nutrition’s 30th anniversary with animal welfare charity Mayhew to showcase some of the animals in their care that are looking for a second chance.

Chief Executive at Mayhew Sherine Wheeler said: “The exhibition has been a delight – the portraits beautifully encapsulate the spirit of each featured dog and cat and underscore the importance of adopting rescue animals.

Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here.

“We hope people will consider purchasing a portrait or donating to Mayhew and importantly, explore whether they can adopt or foster one of the dogs or cats in our care who is waiting for their second chance.”

For more information on the exhibition, the animals in need of rescue or to make a donation, visit their website.

For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk