On Wednesday’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing’s companion show It Takes Two, host Janette Manrara sat down with professional dancer Dianne Buswell and her celebrity partner, Australian actor Stefan Dennis, following his unexpected withdrawal from the competition. The announcement earlier this week that Stefan had to exit due to an injury sparked a wave of online speculation, with some falsely claiming that his departure was linked to Dianne’s pregnancy.
Dianne, 36, who announced before the series began that she is expecting her first child with partner Joe Sugg—whom she met on Strictly in 2018—was quick to shut down these rumors during the interview. Addressing the host, Janette remarked, “You must be gutted about leaving the competition as well… There’s been a lot of chat online about the reasons behind why Stefan left. But, is there anything that you’d like to add about saying goodbye?”
Dianne responded firmly, dismissing the conspiracy theories: “Yeah, obviously, it’s definitely not a conspiracy theory. I feel great! Obviously, I would love to continue with Stefan.” Turning to her partner, she added, “I wish you the best in your recovery, and I would say you were absolutely phenomenal. I enjoyed my time with you so, so, so much! But I’m very proud of you.”
The conversation highlighted the special bond between Dianne and Stefan, both hailing from Australia. Dianne noted, “I appreciate that so much. It’s the first time I’ve ever had a fellow Aussie dance with me, and I’ve really enjoyed it, honestly. I really have, thank you.” She also praised Stefan’s growth in confidence throughout the competition, emphasizing how proud she was of his progress.
Stefan’s final performance on Saturday night earned him his highest score of the series, a commendable 26 from the judges. Reflecting on the experience, Stefan shared his joy: “That was tremendous. If they’d have given me five, I still would’ve been happy, only because I thought that dance was absolutely brilliant. We just had the best fun.”
Janette reassured Stefan that he could leave Strictly Come Dancing with his head held high, a sentiment echoed by Dianne’s heartfelt words. As the pair bid farewell, it was clear their time together had been a highlight, despite the abrupt end to their journey. Dianne’s firm rebuttal of the online gossip put an end to the speculation, allowing the focus to remain on Stefan’s recovery and their shared moments on the dancefloor.