Amanda Abbington breaks down in tears as she gets standing ovation for stage return after difficult few
AMANDA Abbington received a standing ovation from theatre goers tonight after a difficult few months following her Strictly exit.
The actress returned to the stage playing the lead in When It Happens To You and broke down in tears on her debut night.
The Sherlock star, 50, landed the huge new role earlier this year after she quit Strictly mid-series, and lodged an official complaint with the BBC about dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 33.
The Beeb then launched an investigation into a growing storm of concerns over alleged abuse from professional dacners towards their celebrity partner.
Amanda has since broken her silence and spoke about the death threats towards her and her children from extreme Strictly fans.
She told Channel 4 News last week: “It’s been brutal and relentless and unforgiving.
“Well the aftermath has been something that I wasn’t expecting you know, the death threats and rape threats towards not only to myself but to my daughter. And threats of death to my son.”
Since speaking out, the ex-Sherlock star branded the Italian dancer as “nasty” and said she suffered mild PTSD from working with him.
Meanwhile, details have emerged of a secret audio recording that Giovanni is believed to have made in the final weeks for the pair’s tense dance for the show rehearsals.
The Italian dancer’s people have reportedly touted the recording could clear his name.
But a source close to Amanda said: “This tape has been billed as bombshell evidence, however it’s the type of everyday discussions that go on between partners and pros that go on in rehearsals, which can, obviously, be very fraught.
“The idea that this is some kind of ‘smoking gun’ that will exonerate Giovanni from his alleged behaviour is absurd.
“The transcript is just dialogue between the pair, Amanda is being self-deprecating and was clearly trying to cope in a difficult situation, she had no idea Giovanni was secretly recording her.“
Giovanni quit the BBC show earlier this year as some of his other dance partners jointly complained about him.
He has previously been partnered with Laura Whitmore, Faye Tozer, Michelle Visage, Ranvir Singh, Richie Anderson, and Rose Ayling-Ellis, who he won with in 2021.
A decision into the BBC internal investigation is expected at the end of next week.
Amanda will continue to star in When It Happens To You throughout August at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park.