BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Amanda Abbington has spoken out for the first time since her exit from the show, insisting she is still feeling "really good".
Last week, the 46 year old actress withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing due to "personal reasons" and thanked everyone on the show in a statement.
Perhaps tellingly, Amanda didn't mention her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 33, by name, sparking rumours of a disagreement. However, she seems to be moving on after her brief time on the famous show.
On Monday, 30 October, the Sherlock star returned to host her radio show on Boogaloo and was asked about her wellbeing by co-host Sue Vincent.
Sue expressed her pride in Amanda, saying: "I am phenomenally proud of you! I cannot find the words to say how proud I am."
Amanda simply replied: "I'm good, I'm really good."
The mum-of-two left the live show in week five and shared a photo of dancing shoes on Instagram along with her statement.
In a heartfelt message, she shared: "It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly," she wrote. "I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.
"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."
An insider told the The Daily Star that Amanda had been feeling "fed up", adding: "The schedule is very gruelling and after a series of setbacks on the show she has simply decided, with regret, that it's the right thing to do."
Before then, there were whispers that she wasn't getting on with her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, who attended Saturday's show alone. However Amanda's representatives dismissed the reported feud as untrue.
Giovanni took to social media after Strictly announced Amanda's exit from the show to post his own tribute.
Sharing a backstage snap of himself and Amanda taken during Movie Week, the 2021 winner penned: "Amanda ..I am so sad we can't continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love."
When Amanda last appeared on the show, she scored 31 for a quick-footed foxtrot to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac, one of her favourite bands. And during Movie Week, she bagged 30 points for her Bridget Jones-inspired rumba to Out of Reach by Gabrielle.
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