Strictly’s Amanda Abbington delays wedding after ‘one of the worst years of her life’

star has postponed her wedding until 2026, following what she describes as ‘one of the most challenging years of her life.’ The 51 year old actress is reportedly still dealing with the fallout from the scandal that led to her departure from the show in 2023 and later accused her dance partner, , of bullying during rehearsals.

The broadcaster eventually apologised to Amanda after supporting some of her less severe allegations against the Sicilian dancer. However, according to Amanda, the drama pushed her to the brink of a breakdown. Fortunately, her fiance, Jonathan Goodwin, was there for her. She began dating the stuntman after splitting from her Sherlock co-star, Martin Freeman.

Sadly, Jonathan suffered life-changing injuries in 2021 while rehearsing for America’s Got Talent: Extreme. This, along with the Strictly saga, made them feel like they were “definitely on the rollercoaster”, according to Amanda, reports The Daily Star.

In an interview with , she revealed that they had planned to wed in 2025 but have delayed it until 2026 due to “litigation”, which the paper suggests is related to Goodwin. In 2023, the daredevil sued the producers of America’s Got Talent: Extreme after a stunt went terribly wrong, leaving him paralysed when he was crushed between two flaming cars while hanging upside down, reports the Mirror.

As for Amanda, she opened up about the nightmare experience she faced in 2024, sharing harrowing details of receiving death threats and vile comments regarding her children online. She openly admitted: “Last year was one of the worst years of my entire life. I was very close to having a breakdown because of the constant barrage of abuse and hideousness.”

The celebrity bid adieu to Strictly two years prior and later caused shockwaves by alleging backstage bullying from her dance partner Giovanni. This led to an official investigation. The inquiry eventually cleared Giovanni of the more severe accusations, and he strongly denied all claims made against him.

The did extend an apology to Amanda after acknowledging some merit to her complaints, including Giovanni’s inappropriate language and unkind remarks aimed at the mother of two.

Reflecting on her decision to report the behaviour and the aftermath, Amanda expressed: “As the has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do. In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the , I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’.”

She continued to detail the abuse she withstood, stating, “I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation. Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the is a vindication of my complaint.”