Amanda Abbington's real reason for quitting Strictly after missing show (2025)

Strictly Come Dancing confirmed Amanda Abbington has quit the BBC Latin and ballroom show after she missed last week's programme due to medical reasons on Monday night

Amanda Abbington's exit from Strictly Come Dancing was confirmed by the show on Monday night.

During It Takes Two, host Fleur East confirmed that Amanda had quit the BBC Latin and ballroom competition. Amanda and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice were given a bye to the Halloween week after missing out last weekend due to medical reasons, but it has since been confirmed Amanda and Giovanni will not be back this series.

In a statement read out on It Takes Two, Fleur said: "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." Fleur then showed Amanda and Giovanni's best bits on the show, before sending her own well wishes to the actress.

Giovanni broke his silence following his celebrity partner quitting the BBC competition later on Monday night. In a post on Instagram, 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 @amanda_abbington74 @bbcstrictly."

Amanda broke her silence on Tuesday morning, sharing a snap of a pair of dance shoes with her Instagram followers and telling fans: " "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. 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's partner Jonathan Goodwin made a cryptic post just hours before his girlfriend's exit for officially announced on Monday . He had posted a photo of himself, writing alongside it: "We can be so hard on ourselves...be our own worst critics... But before you judge yourself... make sure your mirror is clean." He also later shared a reel of him doing a 45 minute hack to make someone more productive. He captioned it: "The 45 minute hack you can use to make you more productive, eliminate any unwanted feeling, behaviour or emotion. It WORKS and you already know about it."

Fans rushed to social media after Strictly confirmed the news on Monday, and sent their well wishes to Amanda and Giovanni. One wrote: "Oh no they were my favourite. So much love to Amanda and Gio," as a second added: "Very sad news for Amanda and Giovanni, they will be missed but health comes first x." A third penned: "Sending lots of love - gutted for them and she was one of my faves."

A fourth penned: "Absolutely gutted, she was amazing & I really wished she'd stayed on. Just hope she's gonna be ok," with a fifth adding: "Such sad news. Sending light and support to @amanda_abbington74 and @giovannipernice - you were both wonderful x." Former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach - who played Faye Windass in the soap - also reached out to her co-star, posting a sweet message in the comments. "love you so much @amanda_abbington74," she wrote alongside a heart emoji.

Amanda and Giovanni had been making waves in the competition before their early exit, impressing the four judges - Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton du Beke and Motsi Mabuse - with their routines. They had never once been in the dance-off, which saw the exit of four stars so far including Les Dennis, Nikita Kanda, Jody Cundy and most recently, Eddie Kadi.

The pair had impressed with their routines, earning good solid scores throughout the competition and wowing with a string of routines including a Salsa routine as well as a Rumba and a Foxtrot too.

Are you sad to see Amanda and Giovanni leave Strictly? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

However, their time in the competition has come to an end after just four great routines. Amanda and Giovanni missed last week's show due to medical reasons and were given a bye to the following week, but it was announced today she has quit the show.

On It Takes Two last Friday, host Janette Manrara told viewers: "We have some breaking news, unfortunately due to medical reasons, Amanda 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. Amanda we hope you get well soon my love, sending you all the best wishes!"

A representative for Strictly Come Dancing went on to tell The Mirror in a further statement of Amanda's break from the show: "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."

Amanda and Giovanni being missing was also addressed by hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman during Saturday's live show, when they confirmed the news given on It Takes Two the previous day. Claudia opened the show by saying: "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," with her co-host Tess adding a few moments later: "As per the rules of the competition, she's been given a bye and all being well will return to the ballroom next weekend. Amanda, we are all sending you so much love."

Following confirmation she would be missing the upcoming live show, Amanda took to social media on Saturday morning and shared a post to Instagram. Posting for her thousands of followers, she shared an inspirational quote to her Instagram Stories. The image shared with Amanda's followers was original uploaded to the social media platform by an account called @positiveminds011. The image showed a picture of the late actor Robin Williams and the words: "People don't fake depression... they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind."

It was also announced on Monday that Giovanni has faced another setback after the Cardiff dates of his tour were cancelled. Giovanni was due to take his Let Me Entertain You live tour to St David's Hall in Cardiff on January 24, 2024 but it has now been postponed. "St David’s Hall will be closed until the new year to undertake additional checks on the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) panels in the building," a statement on the venue's official website read, before adding information on how to receive a refund. A number of other shows scheduled to take place at St. David's Hall have also been cancelled.

The show will return next weekend for a Spooktacular, as the remaining celebrities battle it out to make it through to the next stage of the competition with their frighteningly good routines.

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