Strictly star Amanda Abbington has pulled out of Saturday’s show due to medical reasons.
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, hopes to be back next week.
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 Pernice.
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.
