Angry Strictly viewers call out ‘unfair’ comment to pregnant star Dianne Buswell

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were out in force tonight to defend pregnant pro Dianne Buswell against ‘unfair’ criticism.

Ahead of the 2025 series launch, the Australian star, who joined Strictly in 2017, announced that she and boyfriend Joe Sugg, with whom she was paired in the 2018 version, were expecting a baby boy.

The red-haired 2024 Strictly champ has been supported by both the BBC and her co-stars since sharing the joyous news, and Dianne has assured fans that she will compete as normal for as long as she can.

This year, the 36-year-old is partnered with Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66, who has already proven a hit with Strictly audiences.

Tonight, however, the judges had some constructive feedback for his cha cha, with one of Motsi Mabuse’s comments appearing to rub people up the wrong way.

After their routine to Give It Up by KC and The Sunshine Band, which scored 17, she said: ‘You have a brilliant partnership, and you have a brilliant energy; you guys are like sunshine when you pair up together.

‘I am gonna have to address the elephant in the room: there were lots of tiny, tiny mistakes everywhere … just try next time to rehearse, stick to the routine…’

Taking it on the chin, Dianne butted in, laughing: ‘I don’t know how much more we can rehearse, Motsi!’

‘Find a way! Find a way! I don’t know,’ Motsi replied. ‘But we have to get one performance without those tiny creepers in there. You guys are brilliant together; it’s a shame.’

While Dianne and Stefan appeared to brush off the remark, with the actor admitting he was extremely nervous tonight, it left a sour taste in viewers’ mouths.

Taking to X, @strictlylmx accused Motsi of being ‘ignorant’, adding: ‘i feel like telling the eldest contestant with the pregnant pro to rehearse more when they have been doing long days and its clear it was because of nerves and not lack of rehearsal is an extremely unfair thing to say’.

@dreamofbuswell also said the quip was ‘uncalled for’, while @BFC_Zoe fears this could ‘affect their votes’.

‘The thing is too, people who only watch Strictly on the night & don’t do socials/podcast will genuinely just believe that they don’t rehearse very much now. It’ll affect their votes as people will think they don’t deserve a place if they think they’re not going putting effort in’, they argued.

‘Ngl if I were Dianne and Stefan I’d be fuming about the rehearse more comment like bro is the 8-10 hours not enough for you… it’s wild . Even for a dancer that’s a long rehearsal so wanting them to do more is just insane’, vented @sugwellsmarkle.

‘I thought Strictly capped the amount of hours they could rehearse to 8 hours a day? So how can the judges be giving out comments like ‘you need to rehearse more’ when they’ve been doing their 8 hours a day.. every day… they aren’t allowed…’, @Carlee3091 pointed out.

Indeed, bosses previously clamped down on the length of time couples were allowed to train for when new rules were introduced in 2023.

It was previously reported that pairings are permitted to practise for 48 hours per week, which is equivalent to eight hours a day on a six-day week.

Couples can choose the hours to suit them, but they must not exceed the weekly total.

These new limitations were brought in to ensure a level playing field, and followed an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct. Other new measures have included having a chaperone in the training room at all times.

Meanwhile, Dianne, who is the first star to take part in Strictly while pregnant, has remained defiant against critics who do not believe she is capable of competing.

Last week, she took to Instagram to hit back at a vile message from a troll, which read: ‘I don’t want to see her dance being pregnant. It’s already feeling uncomfortable and she’s only starting to show. It’s really not appropriate’.

Adding her feelings on the matter, Dianne wrote alongside it: ‘I can’t believe in 2025 things like this are still being said’.

Speaking previously to Chris McCausland on their Winning Isn’t Everything podcast, Dianne declared that she will still be ‘doing everything [she] did before’, even while pregnant.

‘Obviously, with lifts, there’s going to be a bit more caution. But my doctor has said everything is normal.’

‘He said, basically, if you’ve done it before, in terms of being a dancer, and you’ve done this, done that, then crack on and keep doing what you’re doing,’ she added.

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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