Strictly no show
ACTRESS Amanda Abbington is set to snub the Strictly finale.
Bosses had hoped the Sherlock star – who quit the show last month – would return for the final when all the contestants reunite for one last dance.
But a source revealed Amanda, who was paired with pro dancer Giovanni Pernice, would not be back.
The pair were rumoured to have had blazing rows during rehearsals, which caused Amanda to quit the show.
The source said: “There have understandably been lots of questions asked about Amanda’s sudden departure.
Actress Amanda ‘will not return for big finale’
That has been difficult – especially for Giovanni, who has been upset about people seeing it as a reflection on him.
“Though they clashed at times, he genuinely wishes her all the best.”
Producers were said to be keen for Amanda, 51, to reunite with Giovanni to show there was “no bad blood”.
The source added: “They wanted to position her as still very much part of the Strictly family, but Amanda’s response to the invitation was she’d not be back.
“It’s a shame, because her exit has been a sour note to the series this year.”
Amanda dropped out of the BBC show in week five, citing medical reasons, and was waved through to the next round. But days later, she announced she was quitting the show.
Amanda wrote on Instagram she was “unable” to continue due to personal reasons.
Her exit came weeks after it was reported she had threatened to quit following rows with Giovanni, 33.
The pair were said to be at loggerheads behind the scenes, though both put on brave faces for the camera. It is also understood that Amanda was left upset by social media remarks about her daughter Grace, 15, who trolls accused of looking “disinterested” in the Strictly audience. The source added: “That was very hard for Amanda. She doesn’t care too much about what people say about her, but it’s different when it’s her children. “That was not the reason she decided to quit, but it certainly didn’t help.” A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment.
to life support. Last night, the Israeli military insisted it would evacuate the babies from Al Shifa.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his vow that there will be no ceasefire until the 240 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 are freed.
Al Shifa’s director, Mohammed Abu Selmia, claimed Israeli troops were shooting people as they fled the hospital, and staff were attacked while they tried to dig a mass grave outside.
One surgeon also told how corpses were piling up inside, increasing the risk of disease.
Dr Youssef Abu Alreesh, of Gaza’s Health Ministry, claimed Al Shifa was now at the centre of the Battle of Gaza. “No one is able to move around the compound,” he said. “There are snipers all over the place.”
A spokesman said there had been 1,500 patients at Al Shifa, along with 1,500 staff, and between 15,000 and 20,000 people seeking shelter. The
Israeli Defence Forces insist Hamas fighters are using civilians at hospitals as human shields, making the medical venues “a legitimate military target”.
But aid agencies confirmed staff had fled for their lives and called for all hospitals to be protected.
In a voice message sent to the BBC, Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta told how doctors at Al-ahli Hospital – which was badly bombed last month – had set up a field hospital to keep it running. He claimed it was now “the only working hospital in Gaza, with more than 150 patients on mattresses on the ground”.
Dramatic video footage taken from Al Nasar Hospital also showed patients emerging with white flags being fired upon.
Yesterday, another 50,000 Gazans fled on the humanitarian route south after it opened for seven hours yesterday.
And in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 57 countries came together to discuss a “permanent ceasefire” to the war, which was triggered by Hamas attacking Israel on October 7.
Qatar was among the countries to condemn Israel’s “targeting” of civilians, and rejected “false allegations” that Hamas had tunnels under hospitals. Israel has said it had attacked military targets in line with international law and taken steps to reduce civilian casualties.
Last night, it insisted there was no shooting and no siege at Al Shifa hospital. Israeli officials also announced that the death toll from the October 7 attacks had reduced from 1,400 to 1,200 as some of the bodies had been identified as Hamas militia.
So far, a total of 11,070 Palestinians have died in the conflict, including more than 4,300 children, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Around 2,700 people are said to be buried under rubble.