Amanda Abbington had a huge smile on her face as she headed to work after eyeing up her next career move. The actress was spotted leaving the Kings Head Theatre in London, where she is starring in This is not a Happy Room.
Despite the title of her latest play, Amanda could not have been happier as she stepped out in Islington. She left the theatre following her first preview night. Her happiness could also mark a sign she has got the next gig she set her sights on.
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The 51-year-old revealed she would love to join Loose Women after enduring what she described as "one of the hardest years of my life". She became embroiled in the major Strictly Come Dancing bullying row after being partnered with the show's now axed pro Giovanni Pernice for the 2023 series.
Since withdrawing from the competition early citing "personal reasons", and later making a formal complaint about the “toxic environment” she experienced, Amanda has been largely absent from mainstream TV.
However, it could all change if she joins the ITV daytime show. When asked if she'd consider joining the likes of Coleen Nolan and Charlene White on the daily panel show, mum-of-two Amanda reportedly said: "Yes, totally.
"It’s nice to have women’s views on things, and I think as long as we don’t paint ourselves as miserable old hags. I think women of a certain age tend to get painted as miserable and moaning and complaining, and I think it would be good to get up there and have fun. They’re great women, and I know a few of them, like Denise [Welch], I love her."
According to The Sun, the London-born actress very much sees her career and life here in the UK, and would rule out a move Stateside.
She is attempting to brush off the Strictly scandal that has plagued her since she left the show in 2023. Amanda accused her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice of being "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" - but last week insisted her complaints were "never personal".
Her complaints saw the BBC launch an investigation and the corporation ended up apologising to Amanda after upholding some of her less serious claims against Giovanni , who has since quit the show. The apology included reference to Giovanni's use of swear words and belittling language towards the mum-of-two.
Giovanni, 34, left Strictly after Amanda's complaints, but always insisted his innocence. He said he was "relieved" the ordeal was over and claimed he only wanted to get the best out of the actress on the dancefloor. The Sherlock actress had claimed she was subjected to a "toxic environment" and "inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying" behaviour during her time on the 2023 series.
Despite her claims against the Italian star, Amanda has now insisted they were "never personal" and praised his talent. The surprise move saw her reflect on the scandal and share her hopes for the future of Strictly, admitting it is a "great" show. Amanda said she hopes the programme is "a happier place" and "now a good environment" following the investigation.
She told the Sun: “It was something that I never really wanted to do in terms of pursuing a complaint, but it was never personal. It was all about a healthy working environment, that’s what it was. I’m friends with a few of the dancers, so I still see a lot of the professional dancers, and we’re still in touch."
She commented on the conclusion of the BBC's investigation into the claims last year as Amanda said: "As the BBC 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 BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being 'mad and unstable'. I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work."
She added: "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 BBC is a vindication of my complaint."
Amanda has continued to brand her time on the show and the aftermath, the hardest years of her life. She appeared on This Morning earlier in the week where she got emotional as she said: "It's been tricky. I don't want to go over old ground. I don't regret what happened. It's time to move on - it was one of the hardest years of my life."
