Amanda Abbington swears at fan in first acting TV role since Strictly

What did you miss?

Amanda Abbington turned the air blue as she played a diva-like version of herself in a mockumentary.

The star – who quit Strictly early last year amid reports that she clashed with her pro partner Giovanni Pernice over his training style – has filmed a role in Meet The Richardsons, playing a hilarious fictionalised version of herself. In the instalment of the Dave show she is approached by fans of TV drama Sherlock, which she starred in as Mary Morstan.

But she turns full diva and lets rip when they ask for selfies.

What, how and why?

The storyline sees Abbington working with actor and writer Lucy Beaumont, who plays a version of herself, on a gritty gangland film.

The drama starts when an admirer recognises Abbington from Sherlock and sidles over to ask for a photo. However, the star declines, turning to Beaumont and sniping: “F****** Sherlock, f****** fans are the f****** worst.” She also snaps at the fan to “shut up t***”.

When another person asked for a selfie, Abbington shouted: “No you can't get a f****** selfie you stupid Sherlock.” She then snatched the stunned fan’s phone and tossed it aside.

What happened on Strictly?

Abbington was a contestant on the last series of Strictly but quit the BBC ballroom contest early, telling fans on Instagram: “It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.”

It was later reported that there had been tension between her and Pernice. He was quizzed about it when he appeared on ITV’s Lorraine last month, and said it was a "shame" that Abbington bowed out of the competition as she could have got all the way to the final.

Kelly noted that Pernice was a “perfectionist” and questioned whether Strictly couples sometimes don’t “gel”. But he continued to praise Abbington for her talent as he explained: “You are just there to put these people in perspective to be the best they can on Saturday night. Amanda was a great, great talent, great dancer.”

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