24 October 2023 , 12:19
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Despite rumours of a bitter feud, Giovanni Pernice has sent his love to Amanda Abbington after his Strictly Come Dancing partner dramatically pulled out of the 2023 series citing "personal reasons".
The Sherlock star, 49, had previously declined to perform on Saturday's show due to "medical reasons", and in a statement on Tuesday morning said she could no longer carry on in the competition. She thanked the production staff, crew and backstage team, but made no mention of Giovanni, 33, with whom she had been partnered since August.
"It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly," Amanda wrote on Instagram. "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.
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington have left the competition after Amanda cited "personal reasons" (BBC/Guy Levy)
The pair had battled speculation about their working relationship since the first week, with Amanda allegedly finding the rehearsals gruelling (BBC/Ray Burmiston)"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."
It was a stark difference from her Insta message the weekend before, when she promised to be back with Giovanni on the show. Then, she shared a picture of them in mid-performance, captioning it: "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR LOVE, KINDNESS AND SUPPORT. It truly means the world to read all your beautiful and heartfelt messages! Honestly. I’m very humbled by it all. You’re all so bloody LULLY!!!
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"See you next week when we cha-cha-charge into Saturday (I’m sorry. Please still vote for us). @giovannipernice thank you! Ya beauty."
And Gio had commented underneath with a fire and heart-eyes emoji, telling her, "Legend, let’s do it partner," to which she'd replied with a string of kisses and flames.
This morning's posting had none of that same rizz, with Amanda choosing to share an image of the gold shoes she'd danced in the previous week to illustrate her message.
Giovanni, in contrast, picked a backstage snap of the two of them seemingly enjoying each other's company as they cuddled up together for the camera for his own tribute message. "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," he wrote against it.
The picture, showing Amanda wearing a blonde wig, red Christmas pyjamas and a coy smile on her face, was immediately flooded with fans' comments telling Gio and Amanda how sorry they were she was leaving. Giovanni's 2019 celebrity partner Michelle Visage shared a crying-face emoji, while one commenter told them: "This is so sad to read. You two were amazing together & were the so lovely to watch each week. Thank you for the routines you gave us. Amanda I hope you’re ok & feel better very soon. Sending you both all the love."
Another said: "I’m so sad for you both that you can’t continue in the competition. Your performances were always so beautiful and heartwarming. Sending you both so much love and best wishes."
And a third wrote: "Wishing Amanda all the best, she was extremely elegant on Strictly ever since the first dance. Saddened to hear that she's unable to continue, but all humans have their reasons and wish to withdraw away from something to focus on another thing to help themselves. Take care of yourself, Amanda. Love you both lots."
Amanda's fiance Jonathan Goodwin shared a cryptic message on his Instagram after she pulled out of the series (jonathangoodwinofficial/Instagram)It comes after Amanda's fiance Jonathan Goodwin shared a cryptic message about "critics" to his own Instagram, hours after It Takes Two host Fleur East announced Amanda was pulling out of the series on Monday night. The retired stuntman, who was left paralysed from the waist down following a stunt going wrong on America's Got Talent, posted a mirror selfie that he captioned: "We can be so hard on ourselves...be our own worst critics... But before you judge yourself... make sure your mirror is clean."
Mum-of-two Amanda is yet to go into detail about the exact reason why she quit, but sources have spoken from the start of the series about rumours of a feud between her and Giovanni - rumours the two had tried to put to bed the week before their missed performance. Amanda, it was claimed, had been left miserable since the first week over Gio's "strict and aggressive style and attitude" and had even considered pulling out before the first live show.
But on It Takes Two, Janette Manrara asked Amanda directly how she was feeling about the rehearsals. "It honestly looks like you two are having the best time, getting along like a house on fire in rehearsals, right?" Janette had asked. Amanda had shot back: "Yeah we are, we are! We do and we laugh a lot, we have the same sense of humour which is really important. So we'll come out, work hard, and then we just laugh, don't we."
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But according to a Daily Star insider, Amanda felt "fed up" and could no longer carry on. "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," said the source.
The contest will now continue as planned with one couple voted off each week.
*Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.40pm on BBC One