Amanda Abbington: Who is her partner Jonathan Goodwin and what happened to him?

Widely recognized for her roles in popular TV shows like Sherlock and Mr Selfridge, Amanda Abbington has been in the spotlight for her personal life as much as her professional achievements. Last year, she appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, paired with Giovanni Pernice.

While things didn’t go well between the two—she called him ‘nasty’ and sought legal advice after she was left with PTSD—her fiancé, Jonathan Goodwin, stood by her through it all.

Who Is Jonathan Goodwin—Amanda Abbington’s Fiancé?

Jonathan Goodwin was an escapologist and stunt performer. According to The Sun, Goodwin became famous after appearing on America’s Got Talent. His dangerous stunts took him to the semi-finals, where he was eliminated. He was also a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent. Goodwin's repertoire includes escaping from straitjackets while hanging upside down and performing fire stunts that leave viewers on the edge of their seats.

He started working on his craft when he was seven, inspired by a book on the original escape artist, Harry Houdini. However, he’s now a hypnotherapist and a motivational speaker after the near-death experience that left him in a wheelchair.

Goodwin and Abbington had known each other since 2012 but officially met in 2021 after weeks of calling and texting. Minutes into their first meeting, the stuntman proposed to the Sherlock actress, and she said yes. Their relationship was soon tested when Goodwin suffered a life-altering accident during a stunt on America’s Got Talent: Extreme.

What happened to Jonathan Goodwin—The accident that changed his life?

In October 2021, Jonathan Goodwin's life took a dramatic turn when he was involved in a horrific accident during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme. The stunt, which was supposed to be a highlight of the now-cancelled show, involved Goodwin escaping from a straitjacket while hanging upside down between two cars suspended in mid-air.

However, things went tragically wrong when the cars were released too early, crushing Goodwin between them before he plummeted 30 feet. He appeared to try and jump up the rope before the cars collided. Unfortunately, the rope snapped, and he was sandwiched between the two vehicles.

The accident left Goodwin with severe injuries, including a lost kidney, broken shoulder blades, shattered legs, third-degree burns, and spinal damage, reports Hello! Magazine. His injuries were so severe that he nearly died on the operating table and stayed in hospital for four months.

In May 2022, he revealed that he had been left paralysed by the accident and confined to a wheelchair for life. Reportedly, he gave Abbington a ‘get out of jail free card’ and said he wouldn’t ‘judge’ her if she left him. He said:

I said you have a get-out-of-jail-free card, if you want to walk away I understand and she told me not to be so stupid.

During an appearance on Lorraine, Amanda said:

He's amazing, he makes me smile. I love him to bits, he's going from strength to strength.

I forget he's in a wheelchair, he's independent and strong. He's genuinely my hero, I don't know what I'd do without him. He's so supportive and gorgeous.

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Sources Used

The Sun: Who is Amanda Abbington’s fiance Jonathan Goodwin?

Hello! Magazine: What happened to Strictly star Amanda Abbington's fiancé Jonathan Goodwin?