The actor Amanda Abbington has quit Strictly Come Dancing.
The Sherlock and Mr Selfridge actor did not appear on the BBC show over the weekend due to medical reasons. Abbington and her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, had received a bye to the next round.
On the Strictly – It Takes Two programme on Monday evening, presenter Fleur East read a statement from a Strictly spokesperson that 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.”
A compilation was then played of Abbington’s best moments on the show. After the footage was played, East said: “Amanda, we are sending you all of our love.”
Abbington’s absence from last weekend’s live show was announced the day before she was scheduled to appear.
A representative for the programme said at the time: “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.”
Abbington subsequently shared via Instagram a picture of the late actor Robin Williams accompanied by the words: “People don’t fake depression … they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind.”
A source told the Daily Star that Abbington, 49, was “fed up”, adding: “The schedule is very gruelling and after a series of setbacks on the show she has simply decided, with regret, that it’s the right thing to do.”
The actor was one of the first names to be announced for the show’s lineup earlier this year, alongside Angela Rippon and Layton Williams.
Four people have been voted off the programme so far: Les Dennis, Nikita Kanda, Jody Cundy and Eddie Kadi.
In Abbington’s last appearance on the show, the actor scored 31 for a quick-footed foxtrot to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac.
In the second week of Strictly, she had impressed the judges with complex-looking lifts and a handstand during a salsa to a song by Gloria Estefan with Pernice.
During movie week, she scored 30 points for her “magical” Bridget Jones-inspired rumba to Out of Reach by Gabrielle.
In August, Abbington denied suggestions that she was transphobic and apologised for “stupid” and “ill-informed” past comments.
The actor had previously tweeted her disapproval of a drag show aimed at parents with babies, calling it “abhorrent”. She also wrote: “You cannot have a penis and be referred to as a woman.”
After a backlash, Abbington posted a video on Instagram where she clarified her stance.
“I need to make this very clear,” she said. “I love drag. I think it’s an amazing form of entertainment and I fucking love drag queens. I think they’re hilarious and brilliant … it’s an art form and I think there’s absolutely a place for it in the entertainment industry. My son [Joe Freeman] played Jamie in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and he was a wonderful drag queen.”
