Amanda Abbington has issued a statement after it was revealed this week that she was withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing for “personal reasons”.
The North London-born actress – whose career on the stage and screen has spanned over 30 years, and is best-known for her roles on ITV and BBC dramas Mr Selfridge and Sherlock – was partnered with veteran pro Giovanni Pernice on the current series of the ever-popular BBC reality competition show that’s been entertaining the masses each weekend for the last five weeks.
In what is a very strong year for the show, with many record-high scores and fan-favourite couples already emerging, the 49-year-old had been receiving plenty of praise from the judges.
And although she has been the subject of some online discussion and discourse over controversial comments she had previously made about the transgender community on social media earlier this year, the actress seemed popular with the voting public too, and was yet to find herself in the bottom two.
But in last week’s episode, it was revealed that Abbington was unable to compete – with undisclosed “medical reasons” cited as the reason.
It was then revealed on Monday evening (23 October) that she had “withdrawn from the competition”.
A statement from Strictly Come Dancing:
"Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition. The show wishes her all the best for the future."https://t.co/DdqwN6dACzpic.twitter.com/mnmj2axwZq
After much speculation on the nature of the situation, Strictly Come Dancing and BBC’s press office confirmed the news of Abbington’s withdrawal from the show with a statement that reads: “Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition. The show wishes her all the best for the future.”
And now finally, Abbington has broken her silence and spoken out in her own statement on social media.
Taking to Instagram yesterday to address the situation, Abbington’s statement reads in full: “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.
“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.
“I want to thank the incredible production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It’s a wonderful bunch of people and I’ll miss all of them.
“I’m so sad that I am unable to go any further.”
Actress Amanda Abbington has withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing / Credit: Ray Burmiston (via BBC)
Abbington closed out her statement by saying thank you to “everyone who voted and who sent wonderful messages and inspiring support”.
“You are all amazing. Truly. Thank you,” she concluded.
Abbington’s professional dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, also issued his own statement on Instagram following the news, which reads: “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.”
Featured Image – Ray Burmiston (via BBC)
TV & Showbiz
Trailer released for highly-anticipated Netflix series House of Guinness filmed in Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for a highly-anticipated new Netflix drama series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been released.
Knight has traded in the foggy streets of Birmingham for the back alleys and stately mansions of Dublin – as well as its world-renowned brewery, of course – as House of Guinness is set to whisk audiences back to the 1860s, where the powerful and debaucherous titular Guinness family is ‘on the precipice of greatness’.
Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, the eight-part series explores an epic story inspired by one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties, and begins immediately after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness.
The story follows the far-reaching impact of Sir Guinness’s will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the phenomenon that is Guinness.
House of Guinness will air on Netflix later this month / Credit: Ben Blackall (via Netflix)
The four Guinness siblings are played by actors Anthony Boyle (Arthur), Louis Partridge (Edward), Emily Fairn (Anne), and Fionn O’Shea (Ben).
Audiences get to watch the Guinnesses experience ‘ecstatic highs’ and heartbreaking lows’ as they work to live up to their birthright of black gold.
The newly-released trailer gives intrigued viewers the chance to see the talented ensemble cast in action, and marvel at the set designs that are like stepping back in time to the 1860s.
Production and filming for House of Guinness commenced from summer 2024 onwards, and some very well-known Greater Manchester places were used as filming locations, such as the Northern Quarter, and Stockport‘s legendary Underbanks.
From the creator of Peaky Blinders, HOUSE OF GUINNESS premieres September 25. Starring Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Fionn O’Shea, and James Norton.
The head of the Guinness brewery is dead. Now his children must navigate power, rebellion and scandal…or risk… pic.twitter.com/QzpLNzA842
Mansions in Cheshire and Liverpool were also used as filming locations for the show.
“It’s the extraordinary story of a family who happens to be the inheritors of the biggest brewery in the world,” creator Steven Knight told Netflix.
“They’re young and are given the task of taking on this incredibly successful brand. The first priority is – don’t screw it up. And the second priority is to make Guinness even bigger.”
House of Guinness will air on Netflix on 25 September, with all eight episodes to available to stream straight away.
You can watch the trailer in full here:
Featured Image – Ben Blackall (via Netflix)
TV & Showbiz
The brilliant Persian cafe in disguise as a greasy spoon that’s just had a star turn on TV
Daisy Jackson
A family-run, often-overlooked restaurant in Chorlton had a star turn on TV last night, when The Hotel Inspector paid a visit to the Chorlton Metro Cafe.
From the outside, this place looks very much like your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon, and it sort of is, with fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches up for grabs.
But beyond that, this is the spot to come for an authentic, hearty, home-cooked Persian food.
And it’s this strange dual identity that has caught the attention of Channel 5 this year, and given the business a full episode of The Hotel Inspector.
Alex Polizzi and her crew headed to Chorlton earlier this year to assist husband and wife Majid and Zahra in a rebrand to become The Persian Stop (the sign still hasn’t changed, but bear with them here).
During the episode, The Hotel Inspector tackled everything from a menu overhaul to a spruce-up of the restaurant’s frontage, and ran a cost evaluation, hoping to help Majid and Zahra to increase custom.
A full spread of the new Persian dishesMajid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dishFantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe
And there were other familiar faces involved too – Channel 5 called on social media experts The Manc (oh wait, that’s us!) to help Majid understand the power of social media.
The couple moved to the UK from Iran more than 20 years ago, and Majid ran a successful construction business – until the financial crisis of 2008.
The pair then poured their life savings into the Metro Cafe, a greasy spoon just across the road from Chorlton tram stop.
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
They kept the full builder’s breakfasts and mugs of tea, but added a new string of Persian stews and fragrant rice dishes to the menu.
Now, with the help of The Hotel Inspector, the menu puts these ancient dishes front and centre.
Expect slices of syrupy baklava for only £2.80, and traditional stews like khoresh bademjan (slow-cooked aubergines with split peas and lamb) and khoresh fesenjan (saffron, ground walnut and pomegranate chicken).
This is a small business, run by a fantastic local couple, and one of those hidden gems that deserves to be a little less hidden.
Emily Sergeant -
25th October 2023 
