Strictly star Amy Dowden issues message to fans after NTAs loss

Amy Dowden has issued an important message to her fans following the National Television Awards. The Strictly Come Dancing professional was nominated in the Authored Documentary category but lost out to Molly-Mae Hague's series, which documented her life following her break-up with boxer Tommy Fury. Fans were not happy online following the awards, with fellow Strictly professional Carlos Gu even slamming the former Love Island star's win in a now-deleted Instagram post. Meanwhile, Amy's documentary focused on her battle with breast cancer and her return to dancing. She has now taken to social media in a video message on her Instagram story.

She said to the camera, "Hi everyone, I thought I'd come on here just to say a quick hello before I have a chilled Saturday night. You can see Lenny [her dog] here, chilled in his Saturday night mode. But I wanted to say a massive thank you for all of the support and lovely messages this week. It's been one fab week with the NTA nomination and Strictly filming. Yes, massive massive thank you."

After the NTA's, The Mirror claimed that Carlos Gu shared a screenshot from his Notes app, which apparently said: "A breakup story wins Best Documentary at the NTAs over films about real human suffering, like those battling illness?

"It's honestly baffling. We're talking about people fighting for their lives, enduring unimaginable pain, and somehow, a story about a messy relationship got the top honour? It feels absurd - almost like a parody of what awards are meant to recognise.

"There's something deeply wrong when heartbreak is given more weight than human resilience in the face of terminal disease. It's not just disappointing - it's a disturbing reflection of where our empathy as a society is held."

Express Online previously contacted Molly-Mae Hague representatives for comment. Representatives of Carlos Gu declined to comment further.

Following her win at the O2 Arena in London on Wednesday, Molly-Mae shared on Instagram: "Just speechless. Last night at the NTAs I shared a category with people whose stories will always be more powerful and inspirational than mine. I see that, I believe that and I want to acknowledge it again here.

"It was only right to dedicate this award to the late Rob Burrow and his family and to the remarkable people in my category... this win belongs to them. I'm so grateful for the recognition, but even more grateful to have stood alongside such strength and inspiration."