Police have visited the home of Amanda Abbington as an investigation into a chilling death threat sent to the actress continues.
Met detectives were alerted on Friday afternoon to a threatening email sent to the north London theatre where Amanda is performing.
The 50-year-old actress is starring in new play When It Happens To You at the Park Theatre in Finsbury.
The frightening email warned ‘she should be prepared to die onstage’ unless she withdrew her complaint about former Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice – who is now at the centre of a BBC probe.
Park Theatre quickly alerted the force who are taking the threat ‘very seriously’ and are working to ‘unmask’ the person who sent it. The Sherlock actress has now been interviewed by officers twice and her home she shares with fiancé Jonathan Goodwin was visited by police yesterday.
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Amanda Abbington arriving to the Park Theatre in Finsbury ahead of her show on Wednesday evening
A source close to the investigation told MailOnline: ‘Specialist officers have been looking at the email closely over the last 72 hours, and now believe they are close to identifying where it was sent from.
‘They are liaising with another force on this now. This, in turn, they hope will go on to lead them to the person behind the threat.
‘Officers have told Amanda they will do all they can to find out who the person is behind the email.
‘They are treating it as a very serious and very credible threat and want to unmask the person behind it.’
Despite receiving the chilling death threat, the director behind the new play Amanda is starring in has told how she has no plans of walking away.
Jez Bond told the Mirror: ‘Amanda is determined to continue. Obviously she was shocked and upset, but she will not be intimidated into standing down from the show. She’s incredibly brave and will not be beaten.’
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Police officers enter their vehicle after visiting the actress’ home
Although the Met Police have not formally identified anyone involved in the investigation, a spokesman confirmed that officers were called to a theatre in Finsbury Park ‘following receipt of an alleged malicious communication.’
The spokesman continued: ‘There have been no arrests, enquiries are ongoing.’
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Amanda Abbington commanded the stage as she made her debut performance in her new play When It Happens To You at the Park Theatre in London on Wednesday
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It marks the Sherlock star’s first acting role since she dramatically quit Strictly Come Dancing last year after accusing Giovanni Pernice of bullying behaviour
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After her performance, Amanda posed for photos with the play’s director Jez Bond
The death threat comes after Amanda expressed her concerns around taking public transport in the wake of the Strictly drama.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on Friday, she said she had withdrawn from social media after getting ‘incredibly toxic and relentless’ online abuse from Strictly fans.
She claimed previously this included death and rape threats against her and her family.
She said: ‘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.
A spokesperson for Amanda said: ‘We can confirm she’s assisting police with their investigations. Amanda is very grateful to the Park Theatre for dealing with this so quickly and professionally.’
Amanda quit Strictly Come Dancing unexpectedly last October.
The BBC show has since been engulfed by drama since professional dancer Giovanni was suspended after bullying allegations made my Amanda came to light.
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Amanda (right) was paired with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice (left) but unexpectedly left the show in October last year
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Amanda has been targeted by Strictly fans after making a series of complaints about dancing partner Giovanni Pernice (pictured together on the show)
Although Giovanni denies the claims, Amanda accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was ‘cruel and mean’.
Speaking to Christine Lampard on Lorraine, she said: ‘It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five, six weeks.
‘It started very early on and when it started to happen I would shut down because I recognised those red flags.
‘And so I would shut down and it would be difficult to get in, and that would be a self-fulfilling prophecy.’
Talking about her schedule on the show, she said: ‘I was going into the rehearsal room every day. I’ve been in rehearsal rooms for 32 years.
‘I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be like.
‘I don’t care what background you’re from – whether it’s dancing, acting, singing – you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness.
‘And that wasn’t extended to me (at Strictly). And so I just said I don’t think this is right.’
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After the show, Amanda changed into a black T-shirt with ‘Quiet No More’ written on the back
In her first acting role since she dramatically quit Strictly, Amanda made her debut in the new play When It Happens To You and reportedly broke down in tears during the performance.
After the emotional show, she changed into a black t-shirt with ‘Quiet No More’ written on the back – seemingly a reference to the ongoing Strictly scandal.
