Strictly’s Amanda Abbington looks exhausted as she and Giovanni Pernice leave rehearsals before she quit this weekend’s live show at last minute

Strictly Come Dancing’s Amanda Abington looked heartbroken as she left rehearsals for the show this week before it was revealed she had pulled out of Saturday’s live show.

It was announced on It Takes Two on Friday that the 49-year-old actress, who has been feuding with her partner Giovanni Pernis for weeks, has pulled out of this weekend’s show due to medical reasons.

Amanda was seen looking tired as she left rehearsals separately from Giovanni this week.

She cut a casual figure in a blue hoodie which she teamed with gray tracksuit bottoms.

Embossed across the back of her top were the words, “I believe in energy conservation!”

Giovanni appeared in good spirits as he left the rehearsal studio, giving onlookers a thumbs up.

He wore a black Adidas jacket and tracksuit bottoms in the same color, which he combined with a pair of comfortable Nike sneakers.

On Friday’s episode of BBC Two’s Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, it was announced that Amanda would not be taking part in this weekend’s Strictly.

Presenter and former Strictly pro Janet Manrara said: “We have some breaking news, unfortunately due to medical reasons Amanda will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.

“Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that Amanda and Giovanni will return next week when all is well. Amanda, we hope you get well soon my love, I send you my best wishes.’

A Strictly spokeswoman confirmed Amanda’s absence was due to ill health, saying: “Due to medical reasons Amanda Abington will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.

“Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean Amanda and Giovanni will be back next week, if all goes well.”

The BBC ballroom dancing competition has reportedly been thrown into chaos after Amanda threatened to quit following a row with partner Giovanni.

She was said to have been “shaken” by the pro’s “militant and aggressive” training style, with tensions between the pair escalating.

According to Sunthe duo were at loggerheads with Amanda wanting to quit hours before she took to the iconic BBC dance floor for the first time.

A source told the publication: “Giovani is a tough master and takes the competition very, very seriously.”

They went on to label his teaching style as “incredibly sharp” which can sometimes “upset his partners”.

A source said: ‘Amanda was really looking forward to dancing with him but found his aggressive training style and attitude quite difficult to deal with.’

Before adding: “He’s quite militant in his approach to training. She was left very shaken and contacted her team about quitting.’

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.

Amanda later fired back at claims she threatened to quit the show because of her falling out with Giovanni.

She shared a video on Instagram, just hours before the first live shows, in which she dismissed the rumors with expletives.

Amanda told how she ‘ignored the bulls***’ as she insisted everything was fine between her and Giovanni, 33.

Seemingly referring to claims of a feud, she said: ‘Ignoring the bulls*** because obviously people are whores.’

Launching an expletive, she continued: “Just stop it, stop it, grow up. Nobody gives a ***. Shut up, they’re whores, so fuck off.’

Amanda also said “who cares what other people think” as she said the message was a “life lesson”.

Her comments came hours after she broke her silence following the reported row in a series of posts praising Giovanni.

Sharing a snap of herself beaming during a rehearsal on her Instagram Stories, she took a look at the “very talented” Giovanni in the accompanying caption.

She wrote: “The smile you give your professional partner at the end of a camera rehearsal when you know you are in safe and extremely talented hands. Giovanni Pernice, legend, see you tomorrow.’

Giovanni then shared her post on his Instagram stories and admitted he was “extremely proud” of his dance partner as they proved they have a strong bond.

“I don’t usually say these things early (as everyone probably knows), but I’m extremely proud of you and can’t wait for people to see what we’ve created,” he wrote.

It comes after Amanda credited Strictly Come Dancing with helping her “feel like a woman” again after becoming “invisible” in her 40s.

The screen star said the series made her sexy and gave her a huge confidence boost, which she hopes will inspire other women her age to ‘grab life with both hands’.

“I’m a woman of a certain age, so I hope to inspire women my age to go out there and grab life with both hands,” she said.

Because I think sometimes women my age kind of give up, and just say, “I’m going to calm down now.” I will settle for this.” And actually, no, you have the potential to go and do anything.’

She said that if she can be ‘thrown’ around the dance floor by ‘beautiful’ partner Giovanni, then ‘any other woman can’.

‘The sky is the limit. I hope to inspire women to go and do something they wouldn’t normally do,” she said.

The Sherlock actress, who admitted to feeling insecure before the show, said the compliments she receives help her feel sexy and confident.

“It’s nice to feel like a woman, because like I said, when you get to a certain age, you become invisible,” she said.

‘Yes. Just do it. And so people say, “Wow, look at you.” And just in a very complementary way, it boosts your confidence. Who doesn’t want to be praised?’

Amanda has two children with ex-partner Martin Freeman, who she split from in 2016 after 16 years together.

She is now engaged to retired stuntman Jonathan Goodwin.

Strictly Come Dancing next airs on BBC One on Saturday 21 October at 6.35pm.