BBC makes major Strictly series decision after Amanda Abbington exit
Strictly Come Dancing fans are reeling from the fallout of Amanda Abbington's early exit.
Last night the actress' departure was confirmed on It Takes Two following days of speculation about her place in the competition. The Sherlock actress and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice were given a free pass to Halloween week after missing out last weekend due to 'medical reasons', but it has since been confirmed Amanda and Giovanni will not be back this series.
After Amanda became the first star to quit the series, there have growing calls from fans to cancel next weekend's dance off to get the format back on track - while another option open to bosses could be a return to the Covid pandemic years, reducing the number of finalists from four to three.
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice have withdrawn from Strictly (BBC/Guy Levy)
When Tony Adams left last year, the next dance off was cancelled (PA)Some fans have also demanded Eddie Kadi to be offered a stay of execution after he was given the boot on Sunday. In November last year, the dance off was cancelled when football great Tony Adams was forced to withdraw from Strictly with an injury.
Fans have flooded twitter with their plans of action with the show now a dancer light. One wrote: "If Amanda's gone can we discount the last dance off and get eddie and karen back?" Another pointed out: "There shouldn't have been a dance off #Strictly on Saturday seeing as Amanda was absent."
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Others were keen to get Eddie back after he was edged out by Zara McDermott. Another Strictly fan posted on twitter: "So now Amanda's gone, Eddie should be brought back, he didn't deserve to go over Zara this weekend."
However, despite mounting demand for a switch-up, the Mirror can reveal BBC bosses are not keen to make any changes to the format following Amanda's early exit.
A source revealed: "The show will continue as normal for the duration of the run with an elimination each week up until the final when the public will decide the winner."
The series will run with the same number of episodes, but with one fewer couple in the final.
Are you sad to see Amanda and Giovanni leave Strictly? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
In a statement read out on It Takes Two last night, Fleur said: "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." Fleur then showed Amanda and Giovanni's best bits on the show, before sending her own well wishes to the actress.
Amanda and Giovanni had been making waves in the competition before their early exit, impressing the four judges - Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton du Beke and Motsi Mabuse - with their routines. They had never once been in the dance-off, which saw the exit of four stars so far including Les Dennis, Nikita Kanda, Jody Cundy and most recently Eddie.
The pair had impressed with their routines, earning good solid scores throughout the competition and wowing with a string of routines including a Salsa routine as well as a Rumba and a Foxtrot too. However, their time in the competition has come to an end after just four great routines.
Amanda and Giovanni missed last week's show due to medical reasons and were given a bye to the following week, but it was announced today she has quit the show. The show will return next weekend for a Spooktacular, as the remaining celebrities battle it out to make it through to the next stage of the competition with their frighteningly good routines.
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