How Amanda Abbington's 'hero' fiancé is supporting her over Strictly scandal

Amanda Abbington has called fiancé Jonathan Goodwin her "hero" as she tearfully told how he has supported her through the ongoing Strictly scandal.

The Sherlock star has revealed that since she made allegations against Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice she has been scared to leave her home after receiving death threats from fans. Abbington has also spoken about how magician Goodwin has supported her, both during her struggles being on the show, and since she decided to speak out against Pernice, who has left the show but denies the allegations.

Abbington told Lorraine host Christine Lampard: "He's amazing. Everything that he's been through he still manages to be confident and funny, and and he's he's everything about him is just an inspiration. He's my hero, really. And he's by my side all the time and is my number one fan. And I'm his. He's a joy. I'm very lucky."

Here's a look at how their love has grown and how they have been a great support to one another.

Whirlwind engagement

Abbington split from The Responder star Martin Freeman in 2016 after 16 years together. They share two children. She had been an acquaintance of stunt magician Goodwin - who is known for appearing on Britain's Got Talent in 2019 - for some years and they were friends on social media.

In 2021 they began to grow closer, speaking on the phone for hours. They finally decided to meet for coffee in Vienna where Abbington was working. Goodwin proposed within half an hour.

Bonded by tragedy

Shortly after their engagement Goodwin was injured while working on a stunt for America's Got Talent: Extreme. The accident left him paralysed from the waist down. Speaking on Jay Rayner's Out To Lunch podcast said he suffered burns, broke his spine, lost a kidney, shattered his legs and severed his spinal cord in the accident.

Appearing on Lorraine together after the accident, Goodwin revealed he had given Abbington a the option to break off their relationship. He said: "I did say, you have a get out of jail free card - if you want to walk away, then I completely understand and she told me not to be so stupid and that was that."

But Abbington said the pair were "closer and tighter than ever" after what happened.

"Every day is a joy," she said. "Life’s too short - that’s what I’ve realised through all of this. Just be in the moment. He’s a total inspiration to me,"

Rock of support

When Abbington signed up to take part in Strictly in 2023 Goodwin appeared in the audience every week to cheer her on until she quit in Week 5 for personal reasons. Goodwin told MailOnline: "If you watch the dances she did, tell me that's a person that's not putting in 100 per cent effort. So it's not about that. What happened is she left a game show because she didn't like the way she was being treated and that's it. That's what she did."

It has since emerged that the actor was coming home from training in tears. Abbington said Goodwin recalled her being sick after rehearsals and he was there to comfort her. She said: "He'd go, 'Yes, you would come home and you'd vomit, you'd cry, and you'd think you were not good enough. You were a shadow, a shell'."

Wedding plans

Abbington said he hopes to start focusing on preparing for their wedding in 2025.

She told Lorraine "Hopefully this won't drag on until next year. Next year we're looking to get married, and we're going to have a lovely big weekend extravaganza with our friends and family."

Read more: Amanda Abbington

• Amanda Abbington opens up about 'toxic' Strictly experience with Giovanni Pernice (Wales Online, 3 min read)

• Amanda Abbington says Strictly Come Dancing fans 'brutal, relentless and unforgiving' in wake of Giovanni Pernice complaint (Manchester Evening News, 3 min read)