Amanda Abbington forced to halt Strictly rehearsals as 'vicious' illness takes toll
Sherlock star Amanda Abbington has been forced to take some time off from Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals after being struck by a "vicious" bout of food poisoning.
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Amanda Abbington took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to seek advice from her followers as she struggles with a nasty case of food poisoning.
The Sherlock star, 51, who is taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, wrote on her Story: "Food poisoning. Particularly vicious one.
"Any tips on how to feel back to normal GREATLY appreciated," along with two vomit emojis.
Amanda's health woes come at an unfortunate time as preparation for the BBC dance show is in full swing ahead of the launch next month.
Earlier this week, the mum-of-two, told her followers she had been feeling nervous and even experienced nightmares ahead of her dancefloor debut.
She said, while filming from her dressing room in Elstree Studios, that she had woken up in a jolt of shock after a bad dream.
Amanda explained: "I had my first Strictly anxiety dream last night. I dreamt that I was in Bungalow 8, which I think is a fictional club in Sex and the City.
"I was in there with Layton [Williams] and we were trying to learn how to do a fast Waltz, which doesn’t exist I don’t think. And I couldn’t do it."
To add to her worry, Amanda also described her first costume fitting as "terrible".
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She continued: “I just had a costume fitting. It’s terrible. I feel like I’m dressing up. It’s like when I wear nail polish, I always feel like I’m playing dress up and like I look like I’m trying to be somebody.
“I’m mad, clearly there is a madness. But it is fun, it’s really lovely to be part of it. It’s the friendliest place in the world, the Strictly family, it really is."
Nevertheless, despite her anxieties, Amanda said her costume is “amazing” and the costume designers have done “incredible” work.
She also said her fellow contestants have been "so lovely" and that she felt "very looked after".
Amanda, who was previously in a relationship with Martin Freeman for 16 years, will compete against the likes of Les Dennis, Angela Rippon, Zara McDermott and Nigel Harman.
It has now been revealed that the new series will kick off from the Strictly ballroom on Saturday, September 23.