Amanda Abbington breaks her silence and reveals ‘deep regret’ over quitting Strictly Come Dancing
Amanda Abbington has broken her silence for the first time since quitting Strictly Come Dancing.
Sharing a picture of her gold dance shoes on Instagram on Tuesday, Amanda, 49, didn’t reveal why she had quit but instead said she hadn’t come to the ‘decision lightly’.
She penned: ‘It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.
‘It was an absolute joy working with my fellow contestants, they are a beautiful, hardworking and talented group of people who I love and who I will miss seeing every Friday and Saturday and competing alongside.
‘I want to thank the incredible Production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It’s a wonderful bunch of people and I’ll miss all of them.
Sad: Amanda Abbington broke her silence and revealed her ‘deep regret’ over quitting Strictly Come Dancing – she shared this picture of her dance shoes on Instagram on Tuesday
Poignant: She shared these words alongside the picture as she updated her fans on how she was feeling and thanked those she had worked with
Sad news: Amanda has received a wave of support from fans after she quit Strictly on Monday (pictured performing the rhumba with Giovanni Pernice)
‘I’m so sad that I am unable to go any further. Thank you to everyone who voted and who sent wonderful messages and inspiring support. You are all amazing. Truly. Thank you. xxx,’
Amanda has received a wave of support from fans after she quit the show on Monday.
The actress withdrew from the competition after missing last weekend’s show due to ‘medical reasons’ and it has since emerged that her time in the competition was ‘plagued by difficulties.’
On Monday’s It Takes Two, the show confirmed Amanda’s exit and released a statement that read: ‘Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition. The show wishes her all the best for the future.’
A montage of Amanda’s best moments on the series was shown, before host Fleur East added: ‘Amanda we are sending you all of our love’.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans expressed their shock and disappointment, with many Strictly viewers revealing they expected her to reach the final or even win the show with her professional partner Giovanni Pernice, 33.
Struggles: The actress, 49, withdrew after missing last weekend’s show due to ‘medical reasons’ and it has since emerged that her time in the competition was ‘plagued by difficulties’
Fans penned: ‘We are so sorry that Amanda Abbington and @pernicegiovann1’s time on Strictly has come to an end but it’s important that Amanda puts her health first. You will be missed! Four beautiful dances and a very special partnership. Thanks for the magical memories ❤️’;
‘Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice @pernicegiovann1 deserve everything! ✨You would’ve won. So sorry xxx’; ‘Amanda Abbington will always be my Strictly 2023 winner’; ‘Big news : Amanda Abbington WITHDRAWING from #Strictly : official statement says she’s “unable” to continue . This is sad news. She was a beautiful dancer and a contender . I hope she’s okay’;
‘Just heard that Amanda Abbington has decided to end her participation in Strictly.’; ‘Whatever the reason, I wish her all the best for the future. One classy lady’; ‘Very sorry to hear Amanda Abbington has withdrawn from #Strictly. Absolute joy to watch and, I’d have thought, she was a cert for the final. Hope she’s ok’;
‘I’m gutted Amanda Abbington has withdrawn she was brilliant on strictly’; ‘Gutted that Amanda Abbington has withdrawn from. I was enjoying watching her. #Strictly potential winner’;
‘Absolutely devastated that Amanda Abbington has quit #Strictly One of my faves from week one having not known her before either I had a feeling it was coming. Going to miss her and Gio so much they were a joy to watch. Sending much love and hugs to them both ❤️❤️xxxx’;
‘Sorry to hear Amanda Abbington has withdrawn from Strictly. She was really good. Sending her best wishes and hope she feels better soon ❤’; ‘Absolutely devastated that Amanda Abbington has quit #Strictly. One of my faves from week one having not known her before either’;
‘I had a feeling it was coming. Going to miss her and Gio so much they were a joy to watch. Sending much love and hugs to them both’; ‘I’’m gutted Amanda Abbington has withdrawn she was brilliant on strictly’; ‘So sad to hear #amandaabbington has left #StrictlyComeDancing and of course we’ve lost Gio do hope that she’s ok’.
Disappointed: Fans expressed their shock, with many Strictly viewers revealing they expected her to reach the final or even win the show with her professional partner Giovanni
Tribute: Giovanni later took to his Instagram to break his silence after the news broke, sharing a backstage photo with Amanda during Movie Week
Gutted: Captioning the snap, he wrote: ‘Amanda ..I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love’
A Strictly insider told MailOnline about Amanda’s withdrawal: ‘This has been something that Amanda has been unfortunately having to consider making since late last week.
‘It has been a devastating time for Amanda. Her Strictly journey has been plagued by difficulties but she just didn’t think there was any other option.
‘As hard as it has been, there was a chance they could have won.’
Giovanni later took to his Instagram to break his silence after the news broke, sharing a backstage photo with Amanda during Movie Week.
Captioning the snap, he wrote: ‘Amanda ..I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love’.
While just hours before the announcement Amanda’s partner Jonathan Goodwin shared a cryptic post to Instagram.
And after the actress posted a poignant message about mental health earlier in the week, it seems now the Britain’s Got Talent star, 43, has hinted at the same thing.
Sharing a picture of himself posing in the mirror, Jonathan captioned the story: ‘We can be so hard on ourselves…be our own worst critics…
‘But before you judge yourself… make sure your mirror is clean.’
The show’s stars sent ‘all their love’ to Amanda at the start of Saturday’s show.
After introducing this weeks couples, hosts Claudia Winkleman, 51, and Tess Daly, 54, made heartfelt speech about Amanda’s absence.
Claudia said: ‘Now as you may have noticed, Amanda and Giovanni are missing from the line up, due to medical reasons Amanda is unable to perform this week’.
Tess continued: ‘As per the rules of the competition she has been given a bye and all being well will return to the ballroom next weekend’.
Then Claudia gushed: ‘Amanda, we are all sending you so much love’.
As Tess also sent her best wishes adding: ‘So much love to you’.
MIA: The news comes after the Sherlock star, 49, shared a poignant post about mental health after pulling out of Saturday’s show and skipped dancing with partner Giovanni Pernice , 33, due to medical reasons
Early exit: A Strictly insider told Mail Online: ‘This has been something that Amanda has been unfortunately having to consider making since late last week
Cryptic: And after reportedly sharing a poignant message about mental health herself, it seems now seems her partner Jonathan Goodwin has hinted at the same thing in his own social media post (pictured)
Get well soon: It comes after the show’s stars sent ‘all their love’ to Amanda at the start of Saturday’s show (L-R) hosts Claudia Winkleman, 51, and Tess Daly, 54
Claudia said: ‘Now as you may have noticed, Amanda and Giovanni are missing from the line up, due to medical reasons Amanda is unable to perform this week’
It was announced on It Takes Two on Friday that Amanda had dropped out of this weekend’s live show due to medical reasons and is set to return next week.
Amanda, who hasn’t addressed the reason for her absence, reportedly shared a poignant message to her Instagram Stories on Saturday in a now-deleted post.
She re-shared a quote about mental health from late actor Robin Williams originally posted by an account called ‘positiveminds011’, according to The Mirror.
The poignant quote read: ‘People don’t fake depression… they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind.’
Amanda has seemingly since deleted the post, as it is no longer featured on her Instagram Stories.
READ MORE: Amanda Abbington insists she’s not transphobic after deleting her Twitter account following calls to boycott Strictly
Her partner Jonathan was left with life-changing injuries after he was crushed between two burning cars in October 2021 during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The stunt was supposed to see him free himself and fall underneath the vehicles before they collided.
But the cars were released too early and he was crushed as the metal chassis came together before a huge fireball erupted.
Jonathan then fell to the ground and hit his head. He was airlifted to hospital where he underwent surgery.
The stuntman came away from the accident with fractures to his ribs, legs and shoulders, third-degree burns, internal organ injuries and he also lost his left kidney.
He is now suing America’s Got Talent bosses over the stunt that left him in a wheelchair for life.
He first connected with Amanda 11 years ago, when they followed each other on Twitter in 2012.
Whilst they were both in other relationships at the time, Amanda told The Guardian that they ‘admired each other’s work’ and ‘occasionally liked each other’s tweets.’
As they both became single, their messages became more and more flirtatious until they started dating in August 2021, a couple of months before the accident.
Jonathan said he had not considered moving back to the UK until he met Amanda and he changed his mind on a seven-hour phone call to the actress.
He told the outlet: ‘I kind of knew that I’d found my person by the time we hung up.’
Their whirlwind romance saw them get engaged the first time they had met each other in person.
Jonathan said that he had been ‘planning’ the big event ‘already’, despite that the fact that they had only been talking for month.
Amanda said the proposal felt like ‘the most amazing, natural thing in the world.’
The actress said that on the day of the accident, she received a phone call from her fiancé which she found strange because he ‘always texted.’
Terrifying: Her partner Jonathan was left with life-changing injuries after he was crushed between two burning cars in October 2021 during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway
Struggle: The stuntman came away from the accident with fractures to his ribs, legs and shoulders, third-degree burns, internal organ injuries and he also lost his left kidney (pictured with Amanda in 2022)
Amanda was told that that Jonathan was in ‘really bad shape’ and had been taken to intensive care.
Jonathan told The Guardian: ‘I called Amanda to thank her for the time we had together, in case I didn’t see her again.’
He then said that due to his life-changing injuries, he wanted to speak to Amanda and give her ‘an out.’
‘Breaking up never flashed through my mind. I just thanked God he was alive,’ Amanda told the outlet.
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Angela Rippon
Age: 78
Profession: Journalist
Angela says: ‘Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentine Tango.’
Amanda Abbington
Age: 49
Profession: Actress
Amanda says: ‘I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things.’
Layton Williams
Age: 28
Profession: Actor
Layton says: ‘Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It’s time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!’
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Age: 53
Profession: Journalist
Krishnan says: ‘I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘You only live once!’ I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude.’
Eddie Kadi
Age: 40
Profession: Comedian and radio presenter
Eddie says: ‘WOW. Anyone who knows me, understands that music and dance is so important and central to who I am. I’m so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 Team. I promise you, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. This is going to be a VIBE.
Angela Scanlon
Age: 39
Profession: TV presenter
Angela says: ‘I’m not particularly fit, I’ve no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to this dancing. I’ve never done any dances apart from drunken jiving at a wedding!’
Zara McDermott
Age: 26
Profession: Documentary maker and former Love Island star
Zara says: ‘I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan. We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.’
Adam Thomas
Age: 34
Profession: Actor and presenter
Adam says: ‘I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor…I can’t wait!’
Ellie Leach
Age: 22
Profession: Coronation Street star
Ellie says: ‘It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!’
Bobby Brazier
Age: 20
Profession: EastEnders star and model
Bobby says: ‘I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line up, I can’t wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker. I’m looking forward to performing in-front of everyone.’
Nigel Harman
Age: 49
Profession: Actor
Nigel says: ‘I’m amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly. As an armchair fan of the show I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it’s my turn…..gulp!’
Annabel Croft
Age: 57
Profession: Broadcaster and ex tennis player
Annabel says: ‘I have always loved watching Strictly and can’t quite believe I’m going to be part of this magical show – swapping tennis balls for glitter balls and looking forward to finding some joyfulness in the process.’
Message: Amanda, who hasn’t addressed the reason for her absence, reportedly shared a poignant message to her Instagram Stories on Saturday in a now-deleted post
Pulled out: It was announced on It Takes Two on Friday that the actress, 49, who is partnered with Giovanni Pernice, had dropped out of this weekend’s live show due to medical reasons
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