Strictly’s Amanda Abbington has shared a post after pulling out of this week’s show (Picture: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has urged people to ‘be kind’ after she pulled out of this week’s episode.
On Friday night it was announced that the Sherlock actress, 51, would be missing Saturday’s live show ‘due to medical reasons’.
The news was revealed on spin-off series It Takes Two, with host Janette Manrara telling the audience ‘we have some breaking news’.
‘Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, Amanda will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend,’ she said.
While Amanda is yet to directly comment on the reason she isn’t taking part, on Saturday morning she shared a post to social media about mental health.
Resharing a post that included a photo and quote from late actor Robin Williams, it read, as reported by The Mirror: ‘People don’t fake depression… they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind’.
The actress and professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice can’t compete due to ‘medical reasons’ (Picture: PA)
When sharing the news about Amanda not being able to compete this week, Janette said that protocols would allow her to return to the dancefloor with professional partner Giovanni Pernice if ‘all was well’.
The 39-year-old added: ‘Amanda we hope you get well soon, my love, sending you all the best wishes.’
It’s been a tough start to the competition for Amanda, who was struck down with food poisoning just weeks before the show started.
Posting on Instagram in late August, Amanda said she was suffering from a ‘particularly vicious’ bout of food poisoning.
She then begged her followers: ‘Any tips on how to feel back to normal GREATLY appreciated.’
Before the competition started, Amanda was also hit with a bout of food poisoning (Picture: PA)
Last month she was also left in tears after her first day of rehearsals as she started the gruelling training schedule.
In a video shared on Instagram by her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin, Amanda struggled to sit down on the floor to put on her comfy shoes after the first day preparing for Strictly.
When asked how she was feeling, Amanda replied that she was ‘fragile’ and had ‘welled up upstairs in tears thinking about having to put my dance shoes on again’.
She also explained how she’d developed a nasty blood blister on the bottom of one foot.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Amanda Abbington for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
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‘Remember to be kind…’