Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has broken her silence after she was forced to pull out of this week’s live show.
On Saturday (October 21), the Sherlock star took to her Instagram Stories this morning to share a quote from the late actor Robin Williams which was originally posted by an account called @positiveminds011. Printed across an image of the actor dressed as Mrs Doubtfire, it read: “People don’t fake depression… they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind.”
It comes after the BBC One Ballroom spin-off show It Take Two host Janette Manrara confirmed Amanda and her partner Giovanni Pernice would not be performing this weekend. She said: “We have some breaking news, unfortunately due to medical reasons, Amanda will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.
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“Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, Amanda and Giovanni will return the following week.” She signed off with: “Amanda we hope you get well soon my love, sending you all the best wishes!”
A representative for Strictly told The Mirror in a further statement: “Due to medical reasons Amanda Abbington will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend. Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, Amanda and Giovanni will return the following week.”
Fans were concerned for the actor following the news that Amanda would be missing from the upcoming live show and took to social media to wish the star a speedy recovery. One user penned: “Well that made me sad, no Amanda and Gio on #Strictly tomorrow. Disappointed was looking forward to their Cha Cha Cha but most important thing is get well soon Amanda. You will be so missed.”
Another echoed: “Get better soon Amanda! Such a shame was looking forward to her Cha Cha Cha this weekend. Sending her all the best #Strictly #ItTakesTwo.” A third echoed: “Absolutely gutted, her and Giovanni are my faves so gonna be quite boring for me tomorrow.”
The news of her absence comes after the mum-of-two credited Strictly with helping her “feel like a woman again” after previously admitting to feeling “invisible” throughout her 40s. The actress, who shares her two kids with her ex-husband Martin Freeman, said taking to the infamous dancefloor has given her a huge confidence boost and made her feel sexy.
She told her fans: “I am a woman of a certain age, so I'm hoping to inspire women my age to go out there and grab life with both hands. Because I think sometimes women my age kind of give up, and they just go, ‘I’ll settle now. I’ll settle for this’ and actually no, you have the potential to go and do anything.”
Amanda went on to add that if she can “get thrown around” on the dancefloor by her “gorgeous” professional dance partner Giovanni, then “so can any other woman”. She went on: “The sky’s the limit. I hope I inspire women to go and do something they wouldn’t normally do.”
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But she’s not the only star who has been struggling with an illness on the BBC show, after a source has revealed that BBC bosses fear a winter flu could hit the star-studded cast. The news comes after Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas became unwell and had to stop rehearsing to recover before the weekend show.
The celebrities and their pro dance partners have been advised to prioritise their health – even if it means they have to skip valuable rehearsal time. Speaking to The Sun, a source said: “Strictly have been banning the celebs and the pros from training if they’re ill in a bid to stop them from spreading it.
“Naturally, everyone on the show just wants to show up and carry on, but if they’re spreading their lurgy, it could have a big knock-on effect. Strictly should be about sparkles and sequins – not snot.”
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday and Sunday on BBC One from 6.30pm or on catch-up on BBC iPlayer.
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