{"id":38502,"date":"2023-10-24T12:48:52","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T10:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1913344"},"modified":"2023-10-24T13:14:03","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T11:14:03","slug":"amanda-abbington-issues-statement-thanking-strictly-contestants-and-crew","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/amanda-abbington-issues-statement-thanking-strictly-contestants-and-crew\/","title":{"rendered":"Amanda Abbington issues statement thanking Strictly contestants and crew"},"content":{"rendered":"

She said it is down to ‘personal reasons’ as to why she left the show. <\/p>

By Katelyn Mensah\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 24 October 2023 at 10:47 AM<\/p>

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Amanda Abbington has issued a statement following her exit from Strictly Come Dancing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The news of her departure<\/a> from the dancing competition was announced on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on Monday 23rd October.<\/p>\n

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Co-host Fleur East confirmed the star\u2019s decision, saying: \u201cWe have just received the news that Amanda Abbington won\u2019t be returning to Strictly Come Dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Abbington has since posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram<\/a>, thanking her fellow contestants and the production team for making her time on the show \u201can absolute joy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue,\u201d she began.<\/p>\n

\"Giovanni\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington performing on Strictly Come Dancing. BBC\/Guy Levy<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Guy Levy<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank the incredible production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It\u2019s a wonderful bunch of people and I\u2019ll miss all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actress concluded her statement saying she is \u201cso sad\u201d she is \u201cunable to go any further\u201d, and continued to thank those who voted for her and \u201csent wonderful messages and inspiring support\u201d.<\/p>

Abbington\u2019s dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, who wasn\u2019t mentioned in her statement, posted a sweet message and photo of the pair<\/a> following the news of her exit, saying he is \u201cso sad\u201d they were unable to continue the show but is \u201cproud\u201d of all they had achieved.<\/p>\n

Throughout the competition, Abbington and Pernice consistently topped the Strictly leaderboard<\/a>, impressing the judges with their dance routines each week.<\/p>\n

Abbington\u2019s comment section has been flooded with well wishes, with fellow contestant Krishnan Guru-Murthy<\/a> writing: \u201cSending lots of love \u2013 we miss you xxx.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strictly pro Jowita Przysta\u0142<\/a> also wrote: \u201cTake care darling, we will miss you! Sending lots of love.\u201d<\/p>