Strictly Come Dancing fans were dealt a crushing blow this week, when celebrity contestant Amanda Abbington revealed she was pulling out of the competition due to “medical problems.” The star, who had been partnered with Giovanni Pernice, was widely considered to be one of the strongest competitors in this year’s series, however despite her success on the dance floor, the star made the tough decision to withdraw just days after missing the fifth live show of the series. Initially Amanda’s absence was only thought to be temporary, as an announcement made on It Takes Two indicated that she would be returning the following week - however, it has since been confirmed that this is not the case, as Amanda has opted to protect her health by quitting the show completely.