This week’s programme of Strictly Come Dancing will be without one renowned celebrity and her professional partner.
Amanda Abbington, 49, was confirmed to be missing Saturday’s live programme ‘due to medical concerns’ on Friday night.
The announcement was announced on It Takes Two, with host Janette Manrara saying, “We have some breaking news.”
‘Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, Amanda will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend,’ she said.
She’s not the only person to be battling illness ahead of the latest 2023 live show, but Amanda is yet to comment on having to pull out this week.
Amanda and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice have been awarded a bye for next week, according to the show’s regulations.
Why is Amanda Abbington sitting out Strictly this weekend?
When Janette informed Amanda that she would not be able to compete on this week’s programme, she stated that procedures would enable her to return to the dancefloor if “all was well.”
The 39-year-old added: ‘Amanda, we hope you get well soon, my love, sending you all the best wishes.’
While Amanda has yet to comment on having to withdraw out, she did post about mental health on Instagram on Saturday morning.
Re-sharing a post that included a photo and quote from late actor Robin Williams, it read, as reported by The Mirror: ‘People don’t fake depression… they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind’.
Has she quit the show?
While Amanda is just slated to be absent from Strictly this week, she denied last month that she was considering leaving the show.
She was said to be at odds with Giovanni, 33.
While a source said the duo did not get along, her agents fought back, claiming the accusations were absolutely false.
She then went on an expletive-laden social media rage only hours before one of the live events.
Beginning by wishing people a ‘happy Saturday,’ Amanda first said she was at work then corrected herself by saying she was at Strictly HQ, which was ‘just fun isn’t it, it’s fun shenanigans.’
‘I’m wearing my jacket that says “Who cares what other people think?”‘ she went on, making a face at the camera.
‘It’s all fun,’ she went on. ‘Ignoring the bulls**t. Cleary, because people are t***s. Just stop. Stop it, you know who you are.
‘Stop it, grow up, stop it. No one gives a s***. And shut up, it’s b******s, so shut up. You know who I’m talking to, jog on. It’s nonsense and you know it’s nonsense. So that’s it!’
It comes after Giovanni opted to address the rumours a few weeks ago by stating that everything was well between the two.
Re-sharing an image from Amanda’s Instagram, which showed her smiling during a training session, he wrote: ‘I usually don’t say those things early (as probably everybody knows) but I am extremely proud of you and I can’t wait for people to watch what we have created.’
Beside the picture, Amanda had written: ‘The smile you give your pro partner at the end of the camera rehearsal when you know you are in safe and hugely talented hands.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
