Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell has forcefully addressed cruel online speculation surrounding her pregnancy and the recent withdrawal of her dance partner, Stefan Dennis, from the competition. The Neighbours star, aged 66, exited the BBC’s beloved dance show on medical grounds after sustaining a significant calf injury, becoming the third celebrity to withdraw this series, following Kristian Nairn and Dani Dyer, who were replaced by Lewis Cope and Amber Davies, respectively.
Dianne, who is making history as the first pregnant professional dancer on Strictly, faced baseless claims from online trolls suggesting that Stefan’s departure was a “set-up” to protect her and her unborn child. One comment on Instagram read, “To be honest I saw this coming, Diane couldn’t really continue especially when she gets bigger, bless her. She’s a brilliant dancer and she is one of my favourites sorry to say but I think this was planned to keep her and baby safe, just my thought,” as reported by Wales Online.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Dianne responded with passion and clarity, refusing to let the rumors go unchallenged. “I sound like a broken record, but I’m seeing a bit of this floating around again! I know people say ignore it, but actually why should I?” she said. “I will speak up… I would love nothing more than to keep dancing this week, next week, the week after that, and so on and so forth. In fact, I have more energy this year than I did this time last year.”
She continued, directly addressing the speculation: “Please respect Stefan, who is extremely gutted to not be able to dance, and stop presuming this was a set-up! Because believe me, we would if we could!” Her words were a powerful rebuttal to the unfounded claims, emphasizing her commitment to the competition and her respect for her partner’s genuine disappointment.
Dianne also shared a heartfelt tribute to Stefan, reflecting on their time together. “Stefo, I’m so sorry our Strictly journey was cut short just as that confidence was starting to grow. But you can walk away with your head held high,” she wrote. “You can go home to your wonderful wife, put your hand out, and say, ‘Would you like to cha cha cha with me?’ The main reason for being on this show was to be able to dance with her, and you can certainly do that now. You are the kindest human I have ever worked with, and I can always say I got to dance with the iconic Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis—or as my dad calls ya, Paul Robertson.”
Stefan, known for his long-standing role on Neighbours, had expressed his devastation at leaving the competition prematurely. In a statement, he shared, “This morning, I woke up to the most disappointing day of my Strictly journey. Just when I had finally gained the confidence to do well with my dancing in the comp and achieve more great dances along the way, I was told that on Saturday, I had torn my calf so significantly that I am now forced to withdraw from the show.”
He added, “I can’t tell you how devastated I am to have to leave so prematurely, especially as there has been, and still is, so much love and support from everyone for both Dianne and myself. I owe both the Strictly Family and Dianne a massive debt of gratitude for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of being able to dance with my wife (when my leg is better). Fun fact for all the avid Neighbours fans… It’s the same leg!”
Dianne’s response, summed up in her powerful declaration of “Enough is enough,” not only shut down the rumors but also highlighted her resilience and dedication to Strictly Come Dancing. As she continues to break barriers as the show’s first pregnant professional dancer, her determination to keep dancing shines through, proving that she’s as committed to the ballroom as ever.