Actress Amanda Abbington is ready to move on the Strictly Come Dancing and Giovanni Pernice bullying row as she reveals she’d be up for joining one of ITV’s most popular shows

Amanda has her eye on a coveted spot on a huge ITV show

Actress and former Strictly star Amanda Abbington has revealed she has her eye a role on a major ITV show after enduring what she described as “one of the hardest years of my life”. The 51-year-old Sherlock actress 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, but that could be about to change if she gets her wish of a place on the Loose Women panel.

Her time on Strictly led to what she called “one of the hardest years” of her life(Image: PA)

Amanda is open to trying new things now – including an ITV daytime favourite(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

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, despite the success of shows like Mr Selfridge and Sherlock, which also stars her ex husband Martin Freeman.

“I like my career here, and I’m happy to do theatre and telly here, and just be,” she told Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. “I’m a bit of a homebody. I like to be at home with my family and friends – America has never really appealed to me. It’s just not my cup of tea, especially now.”

Amanda and Jonathan have been an item since late 2021(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The actress also recently revealed she’s also about to take a major step in her personal life by marrying her long-term partner Jonathan Goodwin, a retired stuntman who once appeared on Britain’s Got Talent.

Chatting about her wedding plans on This Morning, Amanda revealed the fallout from her time on Strictly was still “hanging over” them, but they plan to tie the knot in 2026.

The couple started dating in 2021 and Jonathan is believed to have popped the question after their first date in Vienna.

“We want to get this year out the way and then focus fully on having a wonderful celebration next year,” she said. “I love him with all my heart. He has been such a rock and is so incredibly inspiring every day.

“Even when he’s negative he’s positive. He’s wonderful and even last year, going through everything I went through, he made me laugh every single day. He has my heart.”