Finally the honeymoon I never had AMY DOWDEN

SIPPING the juice of a coconut as the waves gently lap at her feet, no one deserves a slice of paradise more than Amy Dowden.

- TOM BRYANT

Just nine months ago, the Strictly Come Dancing star's life was turned upside down after being diagnosed with breast cancer that sparked eight rounds of chemotherapy.

But as she walks along a Caribbean beach hand-in-hand with husband Ben Jones, this trip means much more to her than just a lavish holiday.

It is the chance to have the proper honeymoon she was cruelly robbed of the first time around, following their wedding in July 2022.

"Just before I went on honeymoon I found a lump on my breast and overshadowed the whole honeymoon," she says.

"I didn't want to tell Ben as I didn't want to worry him. But every day when I was putting suntan lotion on or I was moisturising, I could feel it and I was worrying more and more.

"Unfortunately, now when I think of that honeymoon, I think of the start of my breast cancer journey.

"I just knew the entire holiday. I just had this gut feeling. I just knew.

"Honestly, there were moments when I was thinking, 'Is this going to be my last holiday ever?', so I am grateful to be going away again." Now she is thrilled, if a little apprehensive, about this trip to Grenada, which is being laid on by ITV daytime show Lorraine, and which viewers will see next Tuesday.

Amy, 33, who had a mastectomy last July, says: "It's the first time I have gone away. And what with the blood clots and wearing a bikini for the first time and everything. But these are all steps that I need to take.