Amanda Abbington in tears as she opens up on ‘hardest year of her life’ after Strictly

Amanda Abbington said she has no “regrets” over the past year, which she admitted has been the hardest, after she quit Strictly Come Dancing and subsequently accused her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice, of bullying

Amanda Abbington has admitted the last year has been “tricky” but she has no regrets amid the Strictly Come Dancing scandal. The actress quit the BBC show in 2023 before accusing her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice, of bullying during rehearsals.

The BBC ended up apologising to Amanda after upholding some of her less serious claims against the dancer, who has since quit the show. However, the actress insists she has no regrets about the past few months.

During an appearance on This Morning today with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, they chatted about her new stage show. However, the interview didn’t end without a mention of the tough few months she has had.

In a new interview on This Morning today, Amanda got emotional as she said: “It’s been tricky. I don’t want to go over old ground. I don’t regret what happened. It’s time to move on – it was one of the hardest years of my life.”

Amanda spoke with Ben and Cat on This Morning today
Amanda spoke with Ben and Cat on This Morning today

Amanda also discussed her plans to postpone her wedding to Jonathan Goodwin, the Britain’s Got Talent star. Before meeting Jonathan, Amanda was married to actor Martin Freeman, who she starred with in BBC show Sherlock.

“We just want to get this year out of the way. we still have things hanging over us in terms of litigation. We want to get this year out of the way,” she said of their plans to postpone their big day to 2026.

With the allegations Amanda made about Giovanni, the BBC investigated and upheld some of the complaints including Giovanni’s use of swear words and belittling language. At the time, commenting on the conclusion, Amanda said: “As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.

“In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’. I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work.”

Amanda and Giovanni were partnered together on the show
Amanda and Giovanni were partnered together on the show

She added: “My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation. Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.”

Over the weekend, Amanda did a lengthy interview where she admitted she was worried people didn’t like her anymore, but was left feeling positive about the future. Speaking about being the villain, she said: “I was made out to be the villain. I don’t know what the industry thinks of me at the moment. I’ve been immersed in the aftermath of it all for a year. I don’t know whether I’ve been cancelled or whether people don’t like me any more, but I know I did what I did for the right reasons. I feel good about the future.”

Related Posts

A former Red Bull Formula 1 star has expressed his belief that Max Verstappen may leave the team sooner than expected, raising questions about the future direction of both the driver’s career and the championship landscape.

Photo: © IMAGO Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen has been tipped to quit Red Bull at the end of this season, by a fellow Dutchman. Verstappen’s future with…

Ferrari’s Fight for Survival: Can the Scuderia’s Latest Upgrades Unlock the SF25’s Potential and End Their Nightmare Season at Austria, or Are They Doomed to Watch Rivals Roar Past?

Ferrari’s High-Stakes Gamble in Austria: Can They Salvage the 2025 Season or Are They Doomed to Watch from the Sidelines Again? Ferrari, once the undisputed titan of…

Christian Horner’s recent statement about Red Bull’s future promises reassurance to Max Verstappen, quelling the swirling rumours of a potential move to Ferrari, and signalling strong team commitment as the Formula 1 season intensifies.

Max Verstappen is patiently waiting for Red Bull to bring some effective updates to his car in his bid for a fifth consecutive Formula 1 title. Currently…

Charles Leclerc recalls intense frustration after losing the Austrian Grand Prix to Max Verstappen’s aggressive late-race move – a controversial moment that not only cost him a long-awaited victory, but also sparked tensions between two of Formula 1’s fiercest rivals.

Charles Leclerc will return to the site where he was denied a first Formula 1 victory by Max Verstappen in 2019 at the Austrian Grand Prix this…

McLaren Shock Fans as Rising Star Alex Dunne Takes Over from Lando Norris in FP1 at Austrian Grand Prix – Supporters React with Surprise, Concern, and Curiosity Over Unexpected Driver Swap in Crucial Practice Session

McLaren have decided to replace Lando Norris with upcoming Formula 2 star Alex Dunne during first practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris, who trails teammate Oscar…

Nico Rosberg Reveals Ferrari’s Strategic Expansion into the UK — A Move That Could Significantly Influence the Future Direction of Formula 1

Ferrari at a Crossroads: Reinvention or Ruin in the Heart of Formula 1 It started with a few carefully chosen words—subtle, almost offhand—from 2016 World Champion Nico…