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Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amanda Abbington has revealed she has fallen sick just weeks before the BBC show launches.<\/p>\n
The Sherlock star, 51, said on her Instagram Story on Thursday (August 24) that she was suffering from a \u2018particularly vicious\u2019 bout of food poisoning.<\/p>\n
With Strictly reported to be starting on September 23, she begged her followers: \u2018Any tips on how to feel back to normal GREATLY appreciated.\u2019<\/p>\n
It comes after her Strictly competitor Adam Thomas, 35, announced he had been diagnosed with\u00a0rheumatoid arthritis before joining the cast.<\/p>\n
Adam explained on Instagram that he had been in \u2018a lot of pain\u2019 since January before tests revealed he had the condition.<\/p>\n
The NHS describes it as a \u2018long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints\u2019 with the main affected areas being the hands, feet and wrists.<\/p>\n
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But he said Strictly couldn\u2019t have come at a better time as he believes that everything happens for a reason.<\/p>\n
The Waterloo Road star wrote: \u2018The reason I signed up to Strictly is because I just want to be able to move again, get fit and do it, all with a smile on my face!<\/p>\n
\u2018It really couldn\u2019t have come at a better time I\u2019m a firm believer of everything happening for a reason, and I know the journey I\u2019ve been on was meant to happen, to never take small things in life for granted! \u2026Like going for a run, playing with my kids and just being able to walk with no pain!<\/p>\n
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\u2018I know it\u2019s going to be tough and I\u2019ve definitely got my work cut out but am up for the challenge and can not wait to get on that dance floor!!\u2019<\/p>\n
Amanda, meanwhile, has recently been the subject of a social media storm after comments she made about a child performing a drag act in March.<\/p>\n
Denying she was transphobic, she said: \u2018I\u2019m sorry if you feel like you need to boycott Strictly for a tweet I made about a drag show but I don\u2019t think 12-year-olds should be doing overly sexualised drag acts.<\/p>\n
\u2018That\u2019s my personal opinion, that\u2019s all. I\u2019m not pushing it on anyone else, I\u2019m just saying that\u2019s how I feel.<\/p>\n
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\u2018I didn\u2019t associate (the tweet) with the trans community nor would I. I\u2019m an ally of the LGBT community and I\u2019m an ally of women\u2019s rights and I\u2019m an ally of kids being kids, and I\u2019m an ally of live and let live.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amanda\u00a0also said that she\u2019 loves drag queens\u2019 and thinks the performance art is an \u2018amazing form of entertainment which is \u2018brilliant and hilarious.\u2019<\/p>\n
The cast announced for this year\u2019s celebrity dancing competition also includes broadcaster Angela Rippon, Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, presenter Angela Scanlon, Bad Education star Layton Williams and comedian Eddie Kadi.<\/p>\n
In 2022, British wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin lifted the glitterball trophy alongside professional dancer Jowita Przystal.<\/p>\n