Amanda Abbington on resilience, reinvention, and choosing joy

Amanda Abbington on resilience, reinvention, and choosing joy

Author: Kate Thornton May 2, 2025 Duration: 44:47

Joining us today is a fearless and brilliant actress whose career has seen her light up stage and screen in everything from Sherlock to Mr. Selfridge, and whose life off-screen has been just as dramatic, heartbreaking, and inspiring as the roles she’s played. It’s the lovely Amanda Abbington!


In this episode, Amanda opens up about the defining chapters of her life so far, reflecting on the quiet end of her first marriage during one of the busiest periods of her career and how she began to rediscover herself as a single mum while navigating both the menopause and the chaos of modern dating. She also shares the story of finding love again with escapologist Jonathan Goodwin, who proposed just 30 minutes after they met, only for a life-altering accident to turn their lives upside down just weeks later. Amanda discusses Jonathan’s remarkable resilience, the strength of their love in the face of adversity, and the small, life-affirming moments that keep them going.


She also talks about her experience on Strictly Come Dancing – what led her to walk away, the storm that followed, and the importance of speaking up for herself and others. With humour, vulnerability and strength, Amanda reminds us that even in the hardest moments, joy, love and laughter are never far away.


You can catch Amanda in her new play This Is Not a Happy Room at Theatre Royal Windsor from 13–17 May.


For all the latest news, click here to follow us on Instagram!


***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens after a glass or two of wine, where guards come down and real stories emerge. That’s the atmosphere White Wine Question Time captures so perfectly. Hosted by Kate Thornton, each episode gathers well-known friends for a relaxed yet revealing chat, structured around three thoughtful questions and, of course, a shared bottle. What unfolds is less a formal interview and more a glimpse into the genuine friendships behind the public personas. You’ll hear laughter, unexpected confessions, and perspectives on culture, society, and current events that rarely make the headlines. This podcast thrives in the space between entertainment and intimate disclosure, often veering into comedy as these candid discussions unfold. With a vast back catalogue of over 450 episodes, each one feels like pulling up a chair to a fascinating table. Whether you start with the latest release or browse the extensive archive, you’re guaranteed a listen that’s as engaging and relevant as it is genuinely enjoyable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

White Wine Question Time
Podcast Episodes
Blue Lights star, actress Sian Brooke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:30
Are you watching Blue Lights? If not, why not? On this episode is one of the stars of the Belfast-based cop drama. She's a star of stage and screen at the peak of her acting prowess. You may have seen her as Sherlock' Ho…
Something from the Cellar: Lynda La Plante [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:03
Over the next five Tuesdays we're holding our own mini literature festival. We've delved deep in the archive to find some of the very best authors we've spoken to over the past seven years, and what an icon we have to ki…
Why is Jon Richardson sleeping in a stranger's boxer shorts? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:21
Jon Richardson will not like this podcast description - as you'll hear! Whether you know Jon from 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, his stand-up specials, playing 'himself' in Meet The Richardsons or from his Saturday mor…
Something from the Cellar: Stephen Fry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:42
A National Treasure. That's what Stephen Fry is. Whether you know him as General Melchett, Jeeves, half of Fry & Laurie, the sound of Harry Potter, the genius of QI or the modern Homer retelling Greek mythology to a new…
Penny Lancaster on menopause, blending families, and role-model Rod [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:32
Welcome to a brand new episode of White Wine Question Time. Penny Lancaster takes a break from her Special Constable policing duties to join us for three glasses of wine and answer three thought provoking questions.Some…
Something from the Cellar: Grace Dent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
Grace Dent joined us for White Wine Question Time back in 2021 - it was such a lovely episode, full of food, formative moments and fond memories. Grace talked about losing her mum only months before we spoke, finding her…
Something from the Cellar: Dannii Minogue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:25
Time for another trip to the cellar for something vintage. This episode of White Wine Question Time was originally recorded in 2021 - when the world was in lockdown. Dannii was in Melbourne having moved back from London…