Strictly’s Amanda Abbington looks exhausted as she and Giovanni Pernice leave rehearsals before she quit this weekend’s live show at last minute

• Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up: All the celebrity contestants confirmed for the BBC competition 

Strictly Come Dancing’s Amanda Abbington looked shattered as she left show rehearsals this week before it emerged she’s pulled out of Saturday’s live show.

On Friday, it was announced on It Takes Two that the actress, 49, who has been at loggerheads with her partner Giovanni Pernice for weeks, had dropped out of this weekend’s show due to medical reasons.

Amanda was seen looking tired as she left rehearsals separately from Giovanni this week.

She cut a casual figure in a blue hoodie which she teamed with some grey tracksuit bottoms.

Emblazoned across the back of her top were the words: ‘I believe in conserving energy!’ 

Fatigued? Strictly Come Dancing’s Amanda Abbington, 49, looked shattered as she left show rehearsals this week before it emerged she’s pulled out of Saturday’s live show

Stepping out: Amanda’s professional dancer partner Giovanni Pernice appeared in good spirits as he left the rehearsal studios, giving a thumbs-up to onlookers

Hint? Amanda cut a casual figure in a blue hoodie which had the words ‘I believe in conserving energy’ across the back

Giovanni appeared in good spirits as he left the rehearsal studios, giving a thumbs-up to onlookers.

He wore a black Adidas jacket and some tracksuit bottoms in the same colour, which he teamed with a pair of comfortable Nike trainers.

It was announced during Friday’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC Two that Amanda would not be taking part in this weekend’s Strictly. 

Host and former Strictly pro Janette Manrara said: ‘We have some breaking news, unfortunately due to medical reasons, Amanda 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. Amanda, we hope you get well soon my love, sending you all the best wishes.’

A Strictly spokeswoman confirmed that Amanda’s absence is due to ill health, saying: ‘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.’

The BBC ballroom dance contest was reportedly thrown into chaos after Amanda threatened to quit following clashes with partner Giovanni.

On a break: It was announced Amanda had pulled out of Saturday’s show due to medical reasons (pictured on show with professional partner Giovanni last week)

Statement: Host Janette Manrara (left) said: ‘We have some breaking news , unfortunately due to medical reasons, Amanda will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend’

She was said to have been ‘left shaken’ by the pro’s ‘militant and aggressive’ training style, with tensions escalating between the pair.

According To The Sun, the duo have been at loggerheads with Amanda wanting to quit hours before taking to the iconic BBC dance floor for the first time.

A source told the publication: ‘Giovanni is a hard taskmaster and takes the competition very, very seriously.’

They went on to brand his style of teaching as ‘Incredibly brusque’ which can sometimes ‘upset his partners’.

The source said: ‘Amanda was really looking forward to dancing with him, but has found his aggressive training style and attitude pretty difficult to handle.’

Before adding: ‘He is quite militant in his approach to training. She’s been left very shaken, and has liaised with her team about quitting.’

MailOnline contacted the BBC for comment.

Amanda later passionately hit back at claims she threatened to quit the show due to clashes with Giovanni.

Denial: Amanda previously passionately hit back at claims she threatened to quit the show due to clashes with Giovanni

She shared a video on Instagram, just hours ahead of the first live shows, in which she rubbished the rumours in a swear-filled rant.

Amanda told how she was ‘ignoring the bulls***’ as she insisted things are all good between her and Giovanni, 33.

Seemingly addressing the feud claims, she said: ‘Ignoring the bulls***, because clearly people are t****.’

Launching a swear-filled rant, she went on: ‘Just stop it, stop it, grow up. No one gives a s***. Shut up, it’s b****cks, so f*** off.’

Amanda also said ‘who cares what other people think’ as she told how there was a ‘life lesson’ in the message.

Her comments came hours after she broke her silence following the reported feud in a string of posts in which she heaped praise on Giovanni.

Sweet: Amanda brushed off rumours as she shared a snap of herself in rehearsals and gushed over ‘talented’ Giovanni

Sharing a snap of herself beaming during rehearsals on her Instagram Stories, she gushed over ‘hugely talented’ Giovanni in an accompanying caption.

She wrote: ‘The smile you give your pro partner at the end of the camera rehearsal when you know you are in safe and hugely talented hands. Giovanni Pernice ya legend, see you all tomorrow.’

Giovanni then shared her post on his own Instagram Stories and admitted that he was ‘extremely proud’ of his dance partner as they proved they have a strong bond.

‘I usually don’t say these things early (as probably everybody knows) but I’m extremely proud of you and I can’t wait for people to watch what we have created,’ he wrote.

It comes after Amanda credited Strictly Come Dancing with helping her to ‘feel like a woman’ again after being in her 40s made her ‘invisible’.

The screen star said the show has made her feel sexy and given her a major confidence boost, which she hopes will inspire other women her age to ‘grab life by both hands’.

‘I’m a woman of a certain age, so I’m hoping to inspire women my age to go out there and grab life with both hands,’ she said.

‘Because I think sometimes women my age kind of give up, and they just go, “I’ll settle now. I’ll settle for this.” And actually, no, you have the potential to go and do anything.’

She said that, if she can ‘get thrown around’ the dancefloor by ‘gorgeous’ partner Giovanni, then ‘so can any other woman’.

‘The sky’s the limit. I hope I inspire women to go and do something they wouldn’t normally do,’ she said.

The Sherlock actress, who admitted to feeling insecure before the show, said the compliments she’s receiving are helping her to feel sexy and confident.

‘It’s nice to feel like a woman because like I say, when you hit a certain age, you become invisible,’ she said.

‘You do. You just do. And so for people to go, “Wow, look at you.” And just in a really very complimentary way, it does boost your confidence. Who doesn’t want to be complimented?’

Amanda has two children with former partner Martin Freeman, from whom she separated in 2016 after 16 years together.

She is now engaged to retired stunt performer Jonathan Goodwin. 

Strictly Come Dancing next airs on BBC One on Saturday 21 October at 6.35pm.

STRICTLY COME DANCING 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?

Angela Rippon

Age: 78 

Profession: Journalist 

Angela says: ‘Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentine Tango.’

Amanda Abbington

Age: 49

Profession: Actress

Amanda says: ‘I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things.’

Layton Williams

Age: 28

Profession: Actor

Layton says: ‘Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It’s time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!’

 Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Age: 53

Profession: Journalist

Krishnan says: ‘I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘You only live once!’ I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude.’

Eddie Kadi

Age: 40

Profession: Comedian and radio presenter

Eddie says: ‘WOW. Anyone who knows me, understands that music and dance is so important and central to who I am. I’m so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 Team. I promise you, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. This is going to be a VIBE.

Angela Scanlon

Age: 39

Profession: TV presenter

Angela says: ‘I’m not particularly fit, I’ve no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to this dancing. I’ve never done any dances apart from drunken jiving at a wedding!’ 

Zara McDermott 

Age: 26

Profession: Documentary maker and former Love Island star

Zara says: ‘I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan. We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.’

Adam Thomas 

Age: 34 

Profession: Actor and presenter

Adam says: ‘I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor…I can’t wait!’

Ellie Leach 

Age: 22

Profession:  Coronation Street star

Ellie says: ‘It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!’

Bobby Brazier 

Age: 20

Profession:  EastEnders star and model 

Bobby says: ‘I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line up, I can’t wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker. I’m looking forward to performing in-front of everyone.’

Nigel Harman 

Age: 49 

Profession:  Actor

Nigel says: ‘I’m amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly. As an armchair fan of the show I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it’s my turn…..gulp!’

Annabel Croft 

Age: 57 

Profession:  Broadcaster and ex tennis player

Annabel says: ‘I have always loved watching Strictly and can’t quite believe I’m going to be part of this magical show – swapping tennis balls for glitter balls and looking forward to finding some joyfulness in the process.’

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