Actress Amanda Abbington has reportedly decided not to participate in the Strictly Come Dancing final after leaving the show earlier this year.
Abbington's sudden departure from the BBC dance contest has sparked rumors of an ongoing feud with her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice.
The pair faced speculation about their strained relationship throughout their time on the show, and it is believed that their sour relations ultimately led to Abbington's decision to leave.
BBC bosses were disappointed by Abbington's choice, as they had hoped that she and Pernice could put aside their differences for one final dance during the show's finale.
"There have understandably been lots of questions asked about Amanda's sudden departure," a source said. "That has been difficult – especially for Giovanni, who has been upset about people seeing it as a reflection on him."
Abbington's absence from the final is seen as a sour note to the series this year, according to insiders.
Cracks Formed Early in the Competition
Reports of tension between Abbington and Pernice emerged early in the competition, with the actress allegedly unhappy with the dance pro's "militant" training approach.
According to sources, Pernice's intense style and attitude were difficult for Abbington to handle, and it affected their partnership on the show.
"Giovanni is a hard taskmaster and takes the competition very, very seriously," a source revealed. "Sometimes his manner is incredibly brusque and this can upset his partners. Amanda was really looking forward to dancing with him, but has found his aggressive training style and attitude pretty difficult to handle."
The hope was that Abbington would return for the final, but she ultimately declined the invitation.
