Amanda Abbington has reportedly quit Strictly Come Dancing after being forced to miss the live show on Saturday, 21 October.
According to The Daily Star, Amanda, 49, who was partnered with Giovanni Pernice, 33, on the show, has made the decision to step down from the competition after becoming 'fed up'.
It comes after the actress didn't perform live on Saturday, alongside the other celebrities on the show, due to a mystery 'medical reason'.
Her absence was addressed at the beginning of Saturday night's show (October 21) as presenter Claudia Winkleman said: “Now as you may have noticed, Amanda and Giovanni are missing from the lineup. Due to medical reasons Amanda is unable to perform this week."
Claudia continued: "Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, Amanda and Giovanni will return the following week. Amanda we hope you get well soon my love, sending you all the best wishes!"
OK! Amanda's reps for comment and the BBC declined to comment.
Rumours of a rift between Amanda and her partner Giovanni have been swirling for the past few weeks, however, they appeared to put those whispers to bed during a recent appearance on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two.
Host Janette Manrara said: "It honestly looks like you two are having the best time in rehearsals, getting along like a house on fire in rehearsals right?"
Amanda agreed and said: "Yeah we are, we are! We do and we laugh a lot, we have the same sense of humour which is really important. So we'll come out, work hard, and then we just laugh don't we."
During the competition so far, Amanda and Giovanni have impressed the judges and audience with their routines, so news of Amanda's apparent departure will no doubt come as a blow to some.
In the very first week of the competition, the couple danced their way to the upper end of the leaderboard, with a score of 29 points, before continuing to excel week after week, with scores of 32, 30 and 31.
This means, that on average the couple have ranked 2nd out of all this year’s competing couples, beaten only by Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin, for overall points so far.
Strictly has faced a number of dramas this year with some of its celebrity contestants facing illness.
Waterloo road star Adam Thomas was reportedly 'banned' from entering last week, with Strictly bosses reportedly left terrified of his illness spreading.
A show source told The Sun: “It sounds silly but the winter flu could wipe out Strictly’s stars – and that would be a nightmare.
“Adam was forced to miss training after being ill and is trying to battle through it now.
“It would be worse if he was to spread it around and being so close with his pro partner Luba means she is more likely to get ill."
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