Strictly’s stars rally around ailing Amanda
AMANDA ABBINGTON’S Strictly co-stars rallied around her last night, sending heartfelt wishes that she will return to the dance floor soon after pulling out of the show for medical reasons.
Many of her fellow celebrities feared she may not get the chance to complete her Strictly story following her unfortunate – and unspecified – absence.
And Abbington’s partner on the show, Giovanni Pernice, is also said to be ‘disappointed’ they couldn’t dance the cha cha cha to Canned Heat by Jamiroquai after perfecting their routine for most of the week.
Before last night, the pair scored third on the overall leaderboard and were hotly tipped to be among the favourites to win the show – despite rumours of a rift between the two.
Speaking on spin-off show It Takes Two last month, Pernice admitted their first weeks together had been ‘a difficult process’. But Abbington, 49, quashed the talk, claiming the pair ‘laugh a lot’.
A Strictly insider told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Gio hopes she gets better soon and was disappointed not to be on the dancefloor with her last night. He really hopes she will be back next week.
‘It is such a pity, they were doing great and loved being at the top of the leaderboard, but Amanda was hit by a medical issue. Fingers crossed she’ll be back.’
On Friday, it was revealed Sherlock actress Abbington and Pernice, 33, would be given a bye for this week’s show, and hosts Tess Daly and
Claudia Winkleman last night explained to viewers she would not be penalised for sitting out, later sending their wellwishes on her recovery. ‘As per the rules of the competition, she has been given a bye and, all being well, will return to the ballroom next weekend,’ Daly clarified on air. ‘Amanda, we are all sending you so much love,’ added Winkleman, to which Daly said: ‘Lots of love to you.’
Elsewhere on the dancefloor, theatre star Layton Williams earned the highest score of the series scoring a near-perfect 39 for his lively salsa to Quimbara by Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin.
Fan-favourite Angela Rippon once again defied her 79 years, wowing both judges and viewers with her tango to Tangier by Sexteto Mayor with partner Kai Widdrington. Her inspired routine was rewarded with 34 points – the former newsreader’s highest score to date.
Strictly sweetheart Bobby Brazier and partner Dianne Buswell performed a romantic Viennese waltz to Golden Hour by JVKE amid rumours all is not well in her relationship with boyfriend Joe Sugg – who the pro was paired with for the show’s 2018 series. Their ballroom act scored 32.
Former tennis ace Annabel Croft included the splits into her Charleston routine to Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang, earning her 27.