PLATELL'S PEOPLE: I'm not entirely sure you can get PTSD from dancing with Gio, Amanda… Perhaps the divorce from Martin Freeman (who is now dating Rachel Mariam) contributed to Abbington's anxiety
There was a lot of excitement when it was announced that Sherlock star Amanda Abbington would be appearing in Strictly.
The 51-year-old mother of two teenagers embodied the essence of the show, a middle-aged celebrity with no dance experience in bar ballet classes as a child.
Under the tutelage of Strictly's professional star dancer Giovanni Pernice, she transformed from an ugly duckling into a swan, hugging her partner as the judges gave her high scores.
Then stories surfaced that Amanda and Gio had had an argument. She dismissed them as complete 'bull***t' on X.
But she quit five weeks later, claiming she had an unspecified medical condition. And then she demanded footage of her and Gio's daily practice sessions, with a view to legal action.
There was much excitement when it was announced that Sherlock star Amanda Abbington (right) would appear in Strictly
Who knows what lies behind Amanda's fear? Perhaps her divorce from her partner of 16 years, Martin Freeman, contributed. He is now in a relationship with Rachel Mariam, 29, (pictured together) twenty years her junior
She said she wanted proof that his rigorous training had so traumatized her that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Of course I sympathize with it; she is clearly upset. But what did she expect when she signed up for Strictly?
Many celebrities would kill for the opportunity. Recently widowed former tennis star Annabel Croft thrived on the show, winning admiration and high scores dancing for her lost husband.
Under the tutelage of Strictly's professional star dancer Giovanni Pernice (pictured), she transformed from an ugly duckling into a swan
Who knows what lies behind Amanda's fear? Perhaps her divorce from her partner of 16 years, Martin Freeman, contributed. He is now in a relationship with Rachel Mariam, 29, twenty years her junior. The struggle of raising two teenage children alone?
Whatever the cause, after great first performances together, it was sad to hear Amanda claim that the partnership became strained and that she had suffered PTSD.
We were first introduced to the term when soldiers returned from war, shocked by what they had endured.
Now it is being passed around to anyone going through a difficult experience. And I have to say that in my opinion, dancing with Giovanni does not qualify for this condition.
Still, I feel sorry for Amanda, a wonderful actress and a talented aspiring dancer.
The BBC has promised to stand by Giovanni, as it should. He never complained or told his side of the story. His career could have been over because of Amanda's meltdown.
Perhaps the lesson is that we should not blame others for our mental health, but look at ourselves.
As for this performance on Strictly, Amanda, I give you zero points.