Police visit Amanda Abbington at theatre after former Strictly star faces alarming ‘death threat’

Police officers visited Amanda Abbington at the theatre where she’s performing her play after the actress received a terrifying death threat, it’s been reported.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star is currently performing in When It Happens To You at Park Theatre in North London, in her first acting role since she competed in the BBC series last year with Giovanni Pernice.

After being partnered together, Abbington, 50, described Penice, 33, as ‘nasty’ and claimed that he exhibited ‘bullying’ behaviour.

The professional dancer, who was confirmed to have left Strictly in June when the pro line-up was announced, is currently under investigation following the allegations made against him, which he strenuously denies.

It’s been claimed that on Friday, Abbington received an email warning her that she would ‘die on stage’ unless she withdrew her complaint against Pernice.

Bosses at the play’s venue were said to have immediately reported the death threat to the police, with officers then interviewing the former Mr Selfridge star that afternoon, The Sun reported.

According to the publication, the police officers were able to retrieve the IP data connected to the email in question, with the aim being to track down whoever sent the threat to the actress.

They reportedly returned the following day to interview Abbington again.

‘Amanda was left absolutely terrified, shaken and very disturbed by the incident,’ a source said.

‘She was hoping that, after deleting her social media, the death, rape and attack threats would subside, but this was a shock and felt very real.’

The insider added that the theatre where Abbington is performing her play is a ‘small intimate venue’, where the audience are ‘within touching distance of those performing’.

‘That’s why the theatre is taking this threat incredibly seriously and decided to involve the police,’ they continued.

‘Amanda is a consummate professional and has remained focused on the play, taking to the stage over the weekend, but is grateful that they have acted so swiftly.’

On Friday, Abbington appeared on BBC’s Woman’s Hour, where she spoke about how she now fears going on public transport, due to the threats she has received.

‘When I’m on the train and things, I do sometimes feel exposed and vulnerable, I do, because of the nature of the threats I was getting. You do feel like you’re public enemy number one for saying “I do not feel entirely happy with this,”’ she said.

The performer previously said that the abuse she’s experienced since she went public with her complaints about Pernice has been ‘relentless’.

‘Death threats and rape threats for just standing up for something that I thought was wrong,’ she stated.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Amanda Abbington’s representatives for comment.