Anton Du Beke has made a bold claim about Amanda Abbington following her mysterious exit from Strictly Come Dancing.
On Monday (23 October), it was announced that the actor, best known for her role in BBC series Sherlock, had withdrawn from the competition just five weeks in.
In a new statement shared on Tuesday (24 October), the 49-year-old, who was partnered with Giovanni Pernice, cited “personal reasons” as the cause of her departure, writing: “It 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.”
She continued: “It 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.”
Du Beke, a judge on the series, shared his views on the news during an appearance on This Morning.
On Wednesday (25 October), he told hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond: “That’s terribly sad. [She was] terrific. She could have made it all the way to the final. I thought she was very, very strong.
Du Beke said he “thought she was very, very strong”, before adding: “Maybe she could come back next year.”
Abbington is best known for playing Mary Watson in the Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman series Sherlock.
In the lead-up to Strictly, she found herself at the centre of controversy due to a resurfaced tweet about a baby sensory and cabaret show aimed at parents and their infants aged two and under.
When the controversy reared its head again in response to her Strictly casting, Abbington posted a video to her critics, saying: “I’m sorry if my tweet about drag shows made you feel like you can’t watch Strictly. And I think if you got to know me, you’d quite like me.
‘Strictly’s Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice— (BBC)
“I need to make this very clear,” she added. “I love drag. I think it’s an amazing form of entertainment and I f***ing love drag queens. I think they’re hilarious and brilliant...”
She continued: “But my tweet back in March was regarding a 12-year-old who was doing it in front of adults. And it just upset me because I saw a kid, a little kid, a 12-year-old, doing something very oversexualised and I didn’t think it was right.
“That was my tweet. I didn’t associate that with the trans community, nor would I associate that with the trans community, because I think they’re two separate things. And I’m not transphobic... I am a firm supporter of the legitimate trans community.”
Abbington had tweeted that the show was “not for babies”, saying: “If you think it is, there is something fundamentally wrong with you.”
Find out which celebrity was eliminated from Sunday night’s results show (22 October) here.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday 28 October at 6.40pm on BBC One.
